Politico: Erdogan Exploits Geopolitical Shifts to Crush Opposition

Tensions remain high in Turkey following the arrest, imprisonment, and removal of Istanbul’s mayor. As Politico observes, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is leveraging geopolitical developments to dismantle democratic opposition. Analyst Jim Dettmer explains that Erdogan’s timing is no coincidence, as he aims to eliminate opposition figures like imprisoned former mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Erdogan has long undermined democracy by silencing dissent and purging the military and public administration. Now, he seeks to complete his shift away from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s legacy toward full autocracy. Influenced by other authoritarian leaders globally, Erdogan feels emboldened by conservative shifts in global politics. The move against Imamoglu comes just after authorities invalidated his degree, disqualifying him from running for president under Turkish law. Despite winning over 15 million votes in a recent poll, legal maneuvers could block Imamoglu’s candidacy. Some suggest Erdogan acted preemptively to prevent Imamoglu from gaining momentum. Trump’s anti-democratic actions have fueled a global climate where autocrats feel empowered. Trump’s frequent calls for imprisoning political rivals make it unlikely he would criticize Erdogan publicly or privately. Elon Musk, a Trump ally, also suspended accounts of Turkish opposition figures on X (formerly Twitter). Analysts argue this marks a shift from liberal technocrats to an era of strongmen who defy constraints. In this friendly rivalry of authoritarianism, Erdogan currently leads.