TURKEY OUTRAGED AGAINST ERDOGAN.

I have been asked repeatedly if the camping in Istanbul’s Taksim square and the subsequent demonstrations in other cities of Turkey, are the result of the influence of the Arab awakening or an imitation of the 15 - M movement. Doubts arise from the dual identity that the Republic of Turkey has been playing with since its formation in 1923: a democracy defined as "European" in an oriental surroundings. However, this country has a defined personality that can not be identified with either of these two social movements. The current situation in the Anatolian Peninsula and its adjacent piece of land across the Bosphorus can not be compared with the demonstrations in the Arab countries aimed to get a real democratization of their countries, or the movement of indignation that called for more participation in the governement and less measures imposed by large corporations while denouncing the corrupt behavior of many leaders, businessmen and bankers.

Throughout the twentieth century and so far this century, Turkey has always been referred to as the only real democracy, along with Israel, which exists in the Middle East. The harsh imposition of a secular system, the calligraphic system change, laws to protect the rights of women and the efforts to modernize the country and bring it closer to Europe by Kemal Ataturk ended up giving it a "patina" different from the rest of the territories freed of the Ottoman Empire.

However, this "patina" could not cover the serious shortcomings in the protection and respect of human rights, the recognition of the different minorities, the acceptance of responsibility for the Armenian and the Kurdish genocide and the authoritarian and undemocratic behaviour of its Security Forces, not to mention the successive coups by the military. Turkey is a cultural and ethnic "sui generis" mixture.

After three election victories, the latest being in 2011 with an overwhelming majority of almost the 50%, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the current Prime Minister, has never felt so strong. Its economic policy, inspired by his business experience has been successful thanks to a series of good choices in a time of international crisis. Economic welfare has allowed him to get the vote of many Turks who do not share at all his Islamist authoritarian drift.

Protests against the bulldozers that razed Gezi Park started with the desire to protect the only green space in this part of Istanbul but have led to a protest against the authoritarianism of Erdogan. Although the unrest in the streets the Prime Minister did not hesitate to continue with his agenda and travel to Morocco while the Turkish Police fought against the campers and protesters. In his early statements he strongly refused even to talk to the protesters, whom he defined as terrorists. This only increased the anger of most of the citizens.

Taksim is located in the most modern European side of Istanbul, where the leisure business and the intelectual movements that question more Erdogan’s will to impose Islam dwell. It is also the area where the Kurds and Turkey’s discordant voices are more peacefully active. In short, a place of "perversion" and "immorality" that the ruling Justice and Development Party wants to erase. As a matter of fact, not so long ago Erdogan tried to build a mosque and was discarded by the social response. This is his second try, now with a great shopping mall. A funny way to avoid “young couples” meeting in the park.

Since the harsh police action, which has caused several deaths and an undetermined number of serious injuries, failed to deter the protesters and their tents, and, as a result of international criticism, Erdogan has shifted to a little 'less authoritarian" speech but this change does not fool anyone, it is a formula to gain time and tire the "rebels".

The irritated Turkish Prime Minister accused foreign corporate and financial interests of being behind the demonstrations, then he turned to Europe and the media. The truth is that under his command Turkey is becoming more prosperous but less democratic and free. The media shut down which is trying to hide the information of what is happening within the country does not hide the discontent of the population. The 50% of the votes cast at the polls in 2011 gave him the government but not a “carte blanche” to behave like a tyrant, much less, considering that 50% does not represent the reality of a population that is neither as Muslim not as faithful as he believes.

While we await the court ruling on the "legality" of the mall and the possible holding of a referendum on the future of the square, the "rebels", "terrorists" and "reactionary Turks, continue demonstrating against the authoritarianism of Erdogan, and we can not forget that less than a century ago an almost unknown man achieved an overwhelming majority at the polls before becoming the greatest genocide in modern history of Europe: Hitler.