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"A Locally Produced Hitler Or Stalin": Lawmakers Blast US Ally For Staging "Coup"

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Last week, we noted that the Turkish lira had plunged to a record low against the dollar as coalition talks between the country’s two largest political parties broke down, setting the stage for snap elections later this year. 

As we’ve detailed over the past several weeks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is keen on sending the country back to the polls in an effort to nullify a stunning ballot box victory by the pro-Kurdish HDP in June.

Ankara’s renewed battle against the PKK is a rather transparent attempt to undermine support for the Kurds ahead of the next election which he hopes will see AKP regain its parliamentary majority, a precondition for his plans to rewrite the constitution, creating an executive presidency. In other words, Erdogan is more than willing to plunge the country into civil war if it means beating back opposition and clearing the way for his power grab.

With the deadline to form a governing coalition just days away (August 23), new elections look all but inevitable and now, opposition leaders are openly accusing the President of staging a "coup" on the way to rewriting the country’s laws and overhauling its political system. 

"Accept it or not, Turkey’s governmental system has become one of an executive presidency," Erdogan said on Friday. "What should be done now is to finalize the legal framework of this de facto situation with a new constitution." 

"He’s now saying 'I won’t listen to the laws or constitution.' This is a very dangerous period," warns Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Main Republican People’s Party. "He wants to give a legal foundation to this coup he’s carried out. Those who carry out coups always do this: First they carry out the coup, then they give it a legal foundation.’"

But the most pointed criticism came from Nationalist opposition leader Devlet Bahceli who took to Twitter, and accused Erdogan of being a "locally produced Hitler, Stalin or Qaddafi.’"

Meanwhile, fighting between Ankara and the PKK has escalated in the guise of a fight with ISIS. As The Economist notes, "many warn that the situation could spin out of control." Here's more:

Yet every day is carrying Turkey further away from peace. The funerals of security personnel, broadcast on television, inflame Turkish tempers. Some Turkish nationalists vilify Kurds as terrorist sympathisers, deepening the polarisation. Human-rights groups say over a thousand Kurds have been detained in the south-east in the past few weeks. Allegations of maltreatment are spreading.

 

Many warn that the situation could spin out of control. Young Kurds born in families displaced by the earlier conflict tend to support the militants. In October 2014, protests against Turkey’s lack of support for the Syrian Kurds fighting Islamic State (IS) led to street violence in which nearly 40 people died. Meanwhile the autonomous area carved out by Kurdish fighters in Syria, which they call Rojava, is fuelling dreams on the Turkish side of the border too. In Kurdish towns, the fresh graves of young fighters killed in Rojava, festooned with flowers and flags, testify to the growing numbers joining the struggle.

 

Civil-society organisations say there is little time left to avert disaster.  

But it won't be a disaster for Erdogan. The more intense the fighting, the more support AKP will likely garner. If the President gets the outcome he wants in a new round of elections he will have succeeded not only in subverting the democratic process but of rewriting the constitution in blood - literally. 

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the type of regime that Washington considers a strong regional "ally."

*  *  * 

Bonus: Some recent color from Barclays on politics and the economy in Turkey

Our macro team notes downside risks to economic growth due the ongoing political uncertainty and external risks. They have revised Turkey GDP growth for 2015 to 2.8% from 3.1%, despite the stronger than expected Q1 15 GDP growth of 2.3%. One of the key reasons is that the strong private consumption growth in Q1 15 is not sustainable and partly due to base effects and carry forward demand due to the TRY sell-off. Additionally, key export markets such as Russia and Iraq are expected to continue to weigh negatively on export performance due to weak growth outlooks.

Politics and geopolitics have also taken a central role in economic growth assumptions. The current uncertainty has the potential to dampen private consumption and investment, ultimately affecting the growth outlook. The recent attacks on PKK and ISIS have inflamed political rhetoric and already tense coalition talks, raising risks significantly of snap elections in November. Escalating security risks are perceived to work in favour of AKP in a snap election as it could tilt the electorate’s preference towards strong leadership and a one party model. A snap election coupled with rising domestic security and external risks will effectively mean an extension of the current investor uncertainty. This in turn would weigh on consumer and business confidence, reducing domestic demand and private investments and ultimately pressuring economic growth. 

 

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Sun, 08/16/2015 - 16:56 | 6432925 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Dr. Frankenstein only know how to animate one type of monster.

If the monster tries to bite its creator, the monster is killed.

This is American foreign policy.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:01 | 6432942 maskone909
maskone909's picture

Old Yeller Foreign Policy

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:28 | 6433031 Manthong
Manthong's picture

“Turkey’s governmental system has become one of an executive presidency,"

“He’s now saying 'I won’t listen to the laws or constitution”

 

And the difference between Turkey and the US is ???

 

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:41 | 6433083 ThroxxOfVron
ThroxxOfVron's picture

"And the difference between Turkey and the US is ??? "

 

Dunno...

Is the Turkish equivalent to the US Supreme Court rubber stamping whatever unconstitutional act the Executive demands?

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:58 | 6433146 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

The US trains the guard that protects the monster.

That's how we keep them controlled.

The monster gets to play under US supervision.

If the monster goes beyond psychotic, the US trained guard kills said monster.

 

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 18:08 | 6433193 Pinto Currency
Pinto Currency's picture

 

 

No different from Ukraine.

When there is a crisis, wait till Obama drops his fecal matter on the US.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 18:23 | 6433241 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

As long as the monster lives, it is doing its master's bidding.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 18:04 | 6433174 bid the soldier...
bid the soldiers shoot's picture

as opposed to rubber stamping a crooked election.

You remember whe SCOTUS ruled that the date of the meeting of the Electoral College, was more important than getting an accurate tally in Florida.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 18:40 | 6433295 giovanni_f
giovanni_f's picture

"And the difference between Turkey and the US is ???"

The US is so completely and irreparably fucked that any thought of "repair" or "change" is simply ridiculous - while there is some hope for Turkey once they get rid of Recep Tayolf Hitlogan. Unlike in the US, there is some civil resistance in Turkey, and the prime minister of Israel is not regularly invited to give his directives to a systemically corrupt parliament.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 03:15 | 6434537 Manthong
Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:09 | 6432972 general ambivalent
general ambivalent's picture

I think you mean, 'the monster's head is attached to a new body.' And an investigation panel tries to explain how the monster didn't mean to bite, and anyway, no one could have foreseen it.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 16:58 | 6432932 GeezerGeek
GeezerGeek's picture

"Accept it or not, Turkey’s governmental system has become one of an executive presidency," Erdogan said on Friday.
Accept it or not, the USSA's governmental system has become one of an executive presidency. Or monarchy. What difference, at this point, does it make?

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:03 | 6432951 knukles
knukles's picture

None, unless the executive president instructs otherwise.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 21:40 | 6433045 Manthong
Manthong's picture

I wish that bird had diarrhea.

..and I can think of a nappy haired president that a diarrhetic bird should alight upon.

 

 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 04:06 | 6434590 quasi_verbatim
quasi_verbatim's picture

The difference with monarchy is you get to have baubles, and flashing jewels, and the Obamas in ermine robes and seated in a gold coach pulled by white horses escorted by military on horseback in gaudy uniforms with plumes and polished boots and gleaming sabres. It's a class thing, mate.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 16:58 | 6432935 CHC
CHC's picture

Exactly like Hitler did.  He acted first then had whatever he did codified in federal law - presto he's instantly legal.  Wow...almost reminds me of a half-breed in the...

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:25 | 6433015 Eirik Magnus Larssen
Eirik Magnus Larssen's picture

There are disturbing reports about that racist mobs are currently attacking Kurds and Kurdish-owned shops in Alayna and Antalya. Several dozens of people have been injured. Local Kurdish sources were describing the event as a "KrystallNacht".

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 02:41 | 6434497 Volkodav
Volkodav's picture

No  Germany nothing same...problems depradations from outsiders....Hitler interrupted that..

Turkey Erogan is deep involved with outsiders, strongly against Turkish citizens

 

 

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 16:58 | 6432936 Richard Head
Richard Head's picture

Nudelman approves. John Fucking Kerry will go along with it as usual.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:03 | 6432955 knukles
knukles's picture

Wait ....  I thought it was Al Gore said he knew JFK.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 21:05 | 6433781 Freddie
Freddie's picture

I was hoping that bird was shitting cyanide on Erdogan's head.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:11 | 6432978 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Turkey also sits on Zion's future gas pipeline route from Israel.

The poor Turkish people.

Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission..

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:15 | 6432997 HalEPeno
HalEPeno's picture

Erdogan believes he is the Mahdi.  His goal is to unite Islm in the middle east under a new Ottoman empire.  This of course runs afoul of Iran, which has aspirations for a new Persian hegemon.  Meanwhile US foreign policy is totally chaotic. Mid-east, far east, Europe, Latin America, sub-saharan Africa: I honestly believe the generals and bureaucrats have been left to make it up as they go along.  This is entropy on steroids.  I have never seen a bigger cluster fuck, and I am a pretty old guy.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:53 | 6433127 Stumpy4516
Stumpy4516's picture

From what I can see Iran has no aspirations other than to exist as a soverign country.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:17 | 6433005 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

Team Amurika!

World Police!

Fuck yeah!

/s

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:35 | 6433022 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

But the most pointed criticism came from Nationalist opposition leader Devlet Bahceli who took to Twitter, and accused Erdogan of being a "locally produced Hitler, Stalin or Qaddafi.’" or Obama

He doesn't even need to get to the Constitutional question...  With the help of his government just like the House and Senate I'm sure Erdogan will get what he needs.

Made in America is now made in Turkey!

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:46 | 6433097 withnmeans
withnmeans's picture

Edgar Cayce prediction is coming true'rrrr

 

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:48 | 6433107 dogfish
dogfish's picture

Hey Kurds how do you like the United Snakes now?Fucked again.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 05:23 | 6434638 Arnold
Arnold's picture

Middle East Montagnards

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 17:48 | 6433108 bh2
bh2's picture

Not a problem cuz Turkey is a NATO member.

Oh, wait....

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 18:17 | 6433218 PoasterToaster
PoasterToaster's picture
"I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."
The real crime, to Western Oligarchs, is that these incidents expose the farce of the law for what it is- a goofy religious reverence for the blatherings of the master class, which is intended to stop the peasants from questioning their slavery.  We are supposed to worship THE RULE OF LAW and never question it.
Sun, 08/16/2015 - 20:24 | 6433631 lincolnsteffens
lincolnsteffens's picture

It is the government that is ignoring THE RULE OF LAW and has instituted DE FACTO LAW. The public is ignorant of their rights and does not protect them. Therefore de facto rules while de jure sleeps.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 18:16 | 6433220 surf0766
surf0766's picture

How did der leader first call?   Who will become head of the new caliphate?  We know who dear leader has in mind

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 18:26 | 6433249 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

"Those who carry out coups always do this: First they carry out the coup, then they give it a legal foundation.’"

Kiev's Junta did just the same.

Now, Turkey is a major US NATO partner, holding a vital flank of NATO. The USA must have a stable and US directed Turkey. So expect deep, deep CIA involvement going forward.

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 03:54 | 6434577 quasi_verbatim
quasi_verbatim's picture

Deep, deep CIA involvement going backward. It all went wrong when Kennedy pulled the Turk-based ICBMs just on account of a little local difficulty with that other US partner, friend and ally, Cuba.

Greece is also a major US NATO partner. Just wait until they start scrapping over the Aegean islands.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 18:33 | 6433279 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

The Turkish army needs to do it's job and overthrow the fucker

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 03:56 | 6434583 quasi_verbatim
quasi_verbatim's picture

Fucker's put 3-400 top Turkish army officers in jail. Army's his fucker, now.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 19:33 | 6433478 Totentänzerlied
Totentänzerlied's picture

ISIS supply convoys depart from Turkey every day in plain view of and with permission from the Turkish military. ISIS also enjoys use of a de facto DMZ at many border areas. When the Syrian Army and/or Kurds tried to attack, ISIS would simply withdraw across the border. Turkey is a NATO member.

Supply convoys also come from Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

You thought they were logistically self-sufficient, isolated in the Syrian/Iraqi desert?

The mainstream media's ISIS coverage is based on the premise that the audience is clinically braindead.

You think the US doesn't know what's going on at the Turkish/Syrian border?

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 04:10 | 6434568 quasi_verbatim
quasi_verbatim's picture

Mainstream media's coverage of just about everything is based on the premise that the audience is clinically braindead.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 21:13 | 6433821 GRDguy
GRDguy's picture

A sociopath at the head office of a country?   So what else is new. Happens everywhere.

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 21:14 | 6433829 The Hidden Hand
The Hidden Hand's picture

Ha siktir, Tayyip

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 21:18 | 6433843 KashNCarry
KashNCarry's picture

Erdogan knows which side his bread is butter on and by whom... (Tool of empire)

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 21:59 | 6433888 earleflorida
earleflorida's picture

Just follow the the 'Black-Gold-Road', on a short tymeline unto NeoCon`Vill, via 'Carrying Barrels of Liquid Coal' from Jeddah to Mecca  on a Camel back'd Pipeliner?

The 'Golden Triangle' of the apex begets the Pyramid afloat the Persian Gulf soon to collapse apon a desert?d`sinkhole?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Arab_Spring           *(2010- 2014)???

Think Syria? WFT got this mess going was but a dozen protesters! Period!!!Now its a preamble to WWII.1/3...

The USSA just pulled the 'Patriot Missiles' out of Turkey. Why? Simple-- they're bringing newly advanced and improvised weaponry that's QC'd 'State-of-The-Art'  modified!

Lastly:    'Turkey'  (the big 4) ::  #1 AKParty [Erdogan], #2 CHParty, #3 MHParty [Nationalist] and #4 HDParty [Pro-Kurdish]          *Note: The Turkish PKK Party (Kurhish militant arm  in Turkey and Northern Iraq along  the border)

'Syria' ::  PYD Party and it's militant arm the YPG party

Sun, 08/16/2015 - 21:57 | 6433983 holdbuysell
holdbuysell's picture

It's all about protecting the petrodollar, which means protecting the Middle East countries who produce the oil and sell in USD. Ironically, what a great way to require protection than create the instability in the first place?

 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 01:22 | 6434405 onmail
onmail's picture

He lives up to the Islamic fundamentals

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 03:07 | 6434520 vheissu
vheissu's picture

"He’s now saying 'I won’t listen to the laws or constitution.' This is a very dangerous period," warns Kemal Kilicdaroglu

This is utter BS! "Warns Kemal K?l?cdaroglu", who is the most delusional political figure ever. Did you know that he also claimed publicly on national television that Erdogan's presedential office has  "PURE GOLDEN TOILETSEAT", in front of millions ? Erdogan immideatly calls for audit to prove this claim, and of course this audit offer gets no response.I tell you this kilicdaroglu guys is a clown. Erdogan never said or never would say anything like that, on the contrary he is carefully executes he constitiutional rights and duties, not to cross any kind of legal boundry.

"a stunning ballot box victory by the pro-Kurdish HDP in June."

Really? How come being by far the 4th party is a stunning ballot box victory ? Erdogans AKP, getting the 41% despite the ruthless western propoganda against him is the loser of the election while a purely racist ethnic kurd party gets barely %13 is stunning ballot box victory.. yea that makes sense.

This is by far the most delusional article i have read on ZH. Not even a sentence reflects the truth, now i wonder maybe i should reconsider all the things i have learned on ZH about the economy. Maybe those are also BS like this.. 

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 03:42 | 6434565 quasi_verbatim
quasi_verbatim's picture

I heard it was gold wallpaper in the shitter. But if you had just spent 400 million on your presidential palace (USD, EUR, STG, what difference does it make?) wouldn't you have the entire crapper solid gold, not just the seat?

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 04:07 | 6434591 vheissu
vheissu's picture

400 million USD is nothing in this world. I am living in ankara, even ordinary apartments at high buildings worth 1-2 million USD. Try comparing this with white house or buckingham palace ? I wonder how much those buidings costs..

And it is not even the point, the point is if you accuse someone in front of millions, and that person you accuse offers you an independent audit to prove your claim, you MUST prove it. If you back off from your accusition i immediately label you as a liar.

Imagine this,

-Ron Paul to FED,there is no gold left, we demand audit.

-FED response, ok gather a team and come audit as soon as possible.

-And Ron Paul, hmm ok no thnx bb.

Look how absurd it sounds, ZH is wrong about erdogan. You need to understand when puppet governments turn their back to USA and starts actually representing the public (like erdogan and akp) western media immediately label them as dictators. It is that simple.

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