With trinkets and commemorative items on sale, Turkey celebrates the anniversary of the failed Coup. With his “emergency powers” Erdogan seems untouchable, and has himself marked this anniversary with the purge of thousands of workers, and some grim remarks:
“TURKEY’S president addressed tens of thousands of people at a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the country’s crushed military coup, vowing to “rip the heads off” of terror groups and of the coup-plotters who tried to end his more than a decade-long rule.”
https://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/a-treacherous-attempt-turkish-president-blasts-failed-coup-on-year-anniversary/news-story/afd225e24353740e52fe3e36470df7df
Turkish voters will decide Sunday whether to replace the Turkish Republic’s parliamentary form of government with a strong presidency. It’s a vote that could alter — or, opponents say, endanger — the democratic traditions of this key U.S. ally. Turkey is a NATO member helping fight ISIS.
If the referendum passes, it will increase the power of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Polls released late in the campaign showed a narrow lead for “yes,” with a large number still declaring themselves undecided. Erdogan is predicting at least a 55 percent margin for “yes.”
Parallels
Turkey’s President Erdogan Pushes For Broader Powers
The vote comes at a perilous time. Turkey remains under a state of emergency declared last July, following a failed coup that left nearly 300 people dead. The Erdogan government has used the emergency powers to conduct a sweeping purge of the military, judiciary and civil service. More than 100,000 people have been fired or arrested, including more than 100 journalists…..
https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/04/15/522771237/will-turkey-vote-to-give-erdogan-even-more-power