Is it Erdogan’s problem or Turkey’s problem?

The case of the financial corruption of three children of the ministers of Turkish administration and a number of officials close to the Turkish Premier, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has taken on critical dimensions. The Turkish premier, in his speeches, considers this case as a plot masterminded by a number of embassies in Turkey, especially the US ambassador to Turkey.
The Turkish premier has emphasized that if this case would develop into a wide-scale conspiracy against him he will take measures for expulsion of these ambassadors from Turkey. The US ambassador to Kabul, who has been accused by Erdogan, has rejected the accusations of the Turkish premier and has refuted any involvement in this case.
As of the beginning of this crisis, three Turkish ministers have tendered their resignations, including the Turkish interior ministers. Erdogan has found himself facing a critical phase, in which all of his opponents, in and out of Turkey, have aimed for his dismissal. Meanwhile, the Turkish premier has still remained hopeful of wide-scale popular support for his administration to somehow solve this crisis.
Meanwhile, the Justice and Development Party, in the past decade, has maintained a successful credential in the economic scene. This in turn is a main asset and source of power for Erdogan. Three landslide victories in three consecutive elections is the result of the successful credentials of the Justice and Development Party in the economic scene. However, in the past three years, several developments have led to a fall in the public approval and credibility of Justice and Development Party.
The Turkish administration initially was after amicable ties with its neighboring countries, but, currently, Turkey’s tensions with neighboring countries have mounted to a new level. Turkey’s support for the opponents of the Syrian President, Bashar Assad, and Turkey’s efforts to toe the US line in the region, have caused several problems for the Turkish administration in the region. In fact, Turkey was so involved in the Syrian crisis that it even teetered on the brink of war. This policy, upon the solidarity of Kurds of Syria and Turkey, and the Allawis of Syria and Turkey, shaped a strong opposition against the Turkish administration.
In the meantime, a number of authors and journalists were incarcerated and currently Erdogan administration is accused of having the worst case against freedom of speech in the region. Also, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have migrated to Turkey, mounting the security and political concerns and problems of Erdogan administration.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, disputes have emerged between Erdogan and the majority of parties. These differences of opinion led the Turkish Deputy Premier, Bulent Arinc, to keep his distance from Erdogan and to turn into one of the powerful opponents of the Turkish premier. The other figure, who was considered as the spiritual leader of Justice and Development Party, Fethullah Gulen, has strongly opposed the Turkish premier. Erdogan has also dissatisfied the army and the Judiciary.
In less than a year, the presidential, legislative, and municipality elections will be held in Turkey. There are social rifts in this country and the economic, security, and political problems are mounting day by day. A large section of the Turkish people is dissatisfied of the status quo. All secular parties and part of religious parties want to make the best of the raised opportunity. Their goal is to defeat the Justice and Development Party and to undermine its leadership.
Erdogan also faced inner-party oppositions. But, he continues to powerfully appear in the scene and is hopeful of the wide-scale and all-encompassing support of the Turkish people. The political rivalries are moving toward bouts of violence. The spread of social violence would make Erdogan’s leadership a highly difficult task.
The Cabinet reshuffle is the first step announced by the Turkish premier. The other step is attribution of crisis to foreign powers and a number of embassies. The other measure is manifestation of popular approval for the administration. Turkey has entered a new crisis; the dimensions of which will be more clarified in the coming weeks. Erdogan who enjoys the overwhelming support of the Turkish parliament and maintains an appropriate credential in the economic scene can still put behind this emerging crisis. The Turkish premier’s compromise with a number of politicians and socially influential parties, in addition to wide-scale popular support are the available options for Erdogan to pull out of this crisis,reported IRIB