Ankara
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delighted secularists this week when he said he would not run for president. Over the past few months, tens of thousands of Turks have demonstrated against an Erdogan candidacy, fearing that the onetime strict Islamist would try to introduce Muslim practices, such as segregation of the sexes or a ban on alcohol. Erdogan said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul would run instead. The Turkish president is picked by parliament, which is dominated by Erdogan and Gul’s governing AK Party, so whoever stands from that party is a shoo-in. Gul is seen as more moderate than Erdogan—although his wife wears a head scarf, which is becoming more common among middle-class Turks.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Buddhist monks’ US walk for peaceUnder the Radar Crowds have turned out on the roads from California to Washington and ‘millions are finding hope in their journey’
-
American universities are losing ground to their foreign counterpartsThe Explainer While Harvard is still near the top, other colleges have slipped
-
How to navigate dating apps to find ‘the one’The Week Recommends Put an end to endless swiping and make real romantic connections
