The cult of Erdogan

Kadri Gürsel

Aug 6, 2014

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (C), his family and AK Party (AKP) members attend a meeting where he is named as his party's candidate for the country's first direct presidential election in Ankara July 1, 2014. Tayyip Erdogan declared his candidacy on Tuesday for a more powerful presidency which rivals fear may entrench authoritarian rule and supporters, especially conservative Muslims, see as the crowning prize in his drive to reshape NATO member Turkey. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS — Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C), his family and Justice and Development Party members attend a meeting in Ankara where he is named his party's candidate for president, July 1, 2014. — REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Türkçe

Anyone who happens to travel to Istanbul these days will come across the same image anywhere they go, anywhere they look: a determined and solemn Recep Tayyip Erdogan, gazing at the horizon in a confident posture with a vague but haughty smile on his face.

Fifty-five million Turkish voters are being bombarded with Erdogan’s image in an aggressive electoral campaign ahead of the Aug. 10 presidential polls, in which the prime minister is the strongest and most advantageous candidate.