Turkey: Strong Man Erdogan
December 2002 625
1.03
Tyyip Basbakan - Prime Minister Tayyip to his supporters. But despite winning the recent election, one of the most charismatic and popular politicians in Turkey has never taken office - barred over a previous conviction for incitement to religious hatred.
0.17 Sync Erdogan
"With our team in the parliament we will reward your trust and will meet your expectations. Nobody needs to doubt us
0.26
Throughout the election campaign the pragmatic and ambitious Erdogan steered clear of religious slogans and was careful to appease all sides. The star of the conservative Islamic Party for Justice and Development promised hope, progress and modernity.
0.46
For a while the situation was potentially explosive: the man who had been elected to lead the country was constitutionally unable to. But the accession to the premiership of his AKP deputy, Abdullah Gul, has proved to be more or less a figurehead. Despite the constitutional barrier to the top, Erdogan is the de facto leader of Turkey.
0.59 OT
Oral Calislar
Polical Scientist and Author
"Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a very charismatic man, who enjoys huge respect in the population. His personality played a large role in the election. Within his party he is very much dominant. He has the whole party executive committee in the palm of his hand. There is no argument in the AK party over his claim to leadership."
1.29
The AK party has its roots in political Islam. Such religious ties are always treated with suspicion here: the constitution is strictly secular. Women are banned from wearing the hijab in public buildings.
1.48
Tayyip Erdogans political career he was once a professional footballer owes a debt to Necmettin Erbakan, whom he met at University. In 1996 Erbakan became Turkeys first Islamist Prime Minister, but was removed from Office after only one year in a "cold putsch" by the Army. His Welfare Party was outlawed, and could never recover its former popularity under different names.
2.13
Erdogan, like his mentor Erbakan, is religious, tee-total and comes from a simple background. As a teenager, he sold lemonade and sesame buns on the streets of Istanbul's rougher districts to earn extra cash. He was mayor of Istanbul for four years and dedicated himself to the poorer suburbs, improving sanitation and infrastructure. Then his political career found a sudden end - with a poem.
2.40 OT Poem
"The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers..."
2.54
Erdogan was convicted of inciting religious hatred and served four months behind bars - despite numerous protests. Four years later the 48-year-old was back, with a new party, the AKP.
3.12
The landslide election victory in November 2002 was closely linked to the worst economic crisis in this region for 50 years. Especially in deprived urban areas of Istanbul, Erdogan was seen as a last hope. Most people considered him not to be corrupt - unlike many other Turkish politicians, including the outgoing Prime Minister Buelent Ecevit.
3.32 Shop OT
"My business still runs well thank God. But our quarter is the same as a village in the country. The people have no money and have to borrow. Many can not pay these loans back."
3.47
The business elite also warmed to Erdogan. These young businessmen have fewer fears of contact with moderate Islamics than with the alternatives such as the military. And the AKP seems to be headed in the right direction.
4.02 OT
Sunay Karamik Özbek
Businesswoman
ENG.: I dont think there will be too many changes, or that Turkey will be governed any differently if there is a religious party in power. We have a strong democratic tradition, and we want to improve our democracy to reach European standards. Ultimately we want to join the EU.
4.31ot
Oral Calislar
Political Scientist and Author
"according to my opinion the AK party could develop similarly as Christian democratic parties have done in the west. Erdogan has distanced himself from his mentor Erbakan and has formed a very distinct new party. In the Akp, young, liberal and westernised politicians dictate the tone. They want to combine Islamic tradition and modern elements, and strive for a new image. Whether this new line is successful remains to be seen."
5.03
Tayyip Erdogan promised respect for all life-styles in his election campaign. Opponents, however, see him as a wolf in sheeps clothing, a man who makes politics in mosques. Erdogan has sent his daughter to school abroad, so she can wear a head scarf. He is also said to speak no foreign languages and to know little about the outside world. Many feared ahead of the election that he might change his views again if his party came to power.
The Generals especially treat his new found moderation with suspicion. The armed forces are the unofficial rulers in the country. All previous religious governments have soon met a military coup.
5.47
Whether Erdogan stands to face a real test, is yet to be seen. At any rate, Tayyip Erdogan wants to avoid any confrontation for the time being.
5.56 OT
Religion is not the centre of our work. Our mandate stated that, and history will show it
6.08
The unelectable winner of the election states clearly he doesnt want to rock the boat, in fact quite the reverse. Erdogan is steering a clear course towards the west - full steam ahead for Brussels.
Report: Heidi Frank
Assistants: Klaus Ther, Jörg Winter
Edit: Peter Mück
Music:
Authentic Turkey - The Islamic World 1
Turkish Gathering
Damil Ahmed
Sonoton SAS 024
Muzikotek CD1
Istanbul
First Settlements
Composer: Halaris
------------
December 2002 625
1.03
Tyyip Basbakan - Prime Minister Tayyip to his supporters. But despite winning the recent election, one of the most charismatic and popular politicians in Turkey has never taken office - barred over a previous conviction for incitement to religious hatred.
0.17 Sync Erdogan
"With our team in the parliament we will reward your trust and will meet your expectations. Nobody needs to doubt us
0.26
Throughout the election campaign the pragmatic and ambitious Erdogan steered clear of religious slogans and was careful to appease all sides. The star of the conservative Islamic Party for Justice and Development promised hope, progress and modernity.
0.46
For a while the situation was potentially explosive: the man who had been elected to lead the country was constitutionally unable to. But the accession to the premiership of his AKP deputy, Abdullah Gul, has proved to be more or less a figurehead. Despite the constitutional barrier to the top, Erdogan is the de facto leader of Turkey.
0.59 OT
Oral Calislar
Polical Scientist and Author
"Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a very charismatic man, who enjoys huge respect in the population. His personality played a large role in the election. Within his party he is very much dominant. He has the whole party executive committee in the palm of his hand. There is no argument in the AK party over his claim to leadership."
1.29
The AK party has its roots in political Islam. Such religious ties are always treated with suspicion here: the constitution is strictly secular. Women are banned from wearing the hijab in public buildings.
1.48
Tayyip Erdogans political career he was once a professional footballer owes a debt to Necmettin Erbakan, whom he met at University. In 1996 Erbakan became Turkeys first Islamist Prime Minister, but was removed from Office after only one year in a "cold putsch" by the Army. His Welfare Party was outlawed, and could never recover its former popularity under different names.
2.13
Erdogan, like his mentor Erbakan, is religious, tee-total and comes from a simple background. As a teenager, he sold lemonade and sesame buns on the streets of Istanbul's rougher districts to earn extra cash. He was mayor of Istanbul for four years and dedicated himself to the poorer suburbs, improving sanitation and infrastructure. Then his political career found a sudden end - with a poem.
2.40 OT Poem
"The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers..."
2.54
Erdogan was convicted of inciting religious hatred and served four months behind bars - despite numerous protests. Four years later the 48-year-old was back, with a new party, the AKP.
3.12
The landslide election victory in November 2002 was closely linked to the worst economic crisis in this region for 50 years. Especially in deprived urban areas of Istanbul, Erdogan was seen as a last hope. Most people considered him not to be corrupt - unlike many other Turkish politicians, including the outgoing Prime Minister Buelent Ecevit.
3.32 Shop OT
"My business still runs well thank God. But our quarter is the same as a village in the country. The people have no money and have to borrow. Many can not pay these loans back."
3.47
The business elite also warmed to Erdogan. These young businessmen have fewer fears of contact with moderate Islamics than with the alternatives such as the military. And the AKP seems to be headed in the right direction.
4.02 OT
Sunay Karamik Özbek
Businesswoman
ENG.: I dont think there will be too many changes, or that Turkey will be governed any differently if there is a religious party in power. We have a strong democratic tradition, and we want to improve our democracy to reach European standards. Ultimately we want to join the EU.
4.31ot
Oral Calislar
Political Scientist and Author
"according to my opinion the AK party could develop similarly as Christian democratic parties have done in the west. Erdogan has distanced himself from his mentor Erbakan and has formed a very distinct new party. In the Akp, young, liberal and westernised politicians dictate the tone. They want to combine Islamic tradition and modern elements, and strive for a new image. Whether this new line is successful remains to be seen."
5.03
Tayyip Erdogan promised respect for all life-styles in his election campaign. Opponents, however, see him as a wolf in sheeps clothing, a man who makes politics in mosques. Erdogan has sent his daughter to school abroad, so she can wear a head scarf. He is also said to speak no foreign languages and to know little about the outside world. Many feared ahead of the election that he might change his views again if his party came to power.
The Generals especially treat his new found moderation with suspicion. The armed forces are the unofficial rulers in the country. All previous religious governments have soon met a military coup.
5.47
Whether Erdogan stands to face a real test, is yet to be seen. At any rate, Tayyip Erdogan wants to avoid any confrontation for the time being.
5.56 OT
Religion is not the centre of our work. Our mandate stated that, and history will show it
6.08
The unelectable winner of the election states clearly he doesnt want to rock the boat, in fact quite the reverse. Erdogan is steering a clear course towards the west - full steam ahead for Brussels.
Report: Heidi Frank
Assistants: Klaus Ther, Jörg Winter
Edit: Peter Mück
Music:
Authentic Turkey - The Islamic World 1
Turkish Gathering
Damil Ahmed
Sonoton SAS 024
Muzikotek CD1
Istanbul
First Settlements
Composer: Halaris
------------