Turkey Holds its Breath

Spring is arriving in Turkey. Flowers are coming out and the snows on the mountains behind the rugged coast are slowly retreating. In Kaş the shops and restaurants that have been shut for winter are all reopening or carrying out redecoration before the tourist influx descends on the pretty little town.

But it is not only shops that are opening. Everywhere political banners are flying and government and opposition offices are springing out of nowhere. Because Sunday 30th March is local election day across all of Turkey and this year the local elections are not the same as previous ones.

 

This year, Turkey is holding its breath because the outcome of the local elections will be a pointer to what happens in next year's general election. Pro Muslim Prime Minister Recep Erdoğan's popularity has plummeted since the recent disturbances in Taksim Square which were followed up by peaceful protests across much of Turkey. Things were made worse when a 15 year old boy died from a tear gas injury incurred during the Taksim protests after being in a coma for months on end. He was simply crossing the square to buy bread for his family at the time he was hit.

Since then Erdoğan has become increasingly concerned over the rise of the opposition. Unrest that began as opposition to development to one of the last green spaces in central Istanbul has now escalated to unease that the secular status of Turkey is under threat and indeed very genuine concern for the future of the country.

Most of the Turks that we know are educated people, proud of their country and its recent rapid progress on the world stage. Kaş in particular is very supportive of Ataturk's reforms in 1923 and keen to retain the country's unique position between east and west. Without exception they are worried about what is around the corner for Turkey.

So, we will watch with genuine concern to see what happens here after Sunday's election. Hopefully you will not be seeing any more images from Turkey on your TV screens next week.