Erdogan’s unexpected about-turn on Ataturk.
On this year’s anniversary of Ataturk’s death on November 10, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan surprised the Turkish public with a declaration that his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would not allow “fascist Marxist parties” or the opposition to monopolise Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey’s ultra-secularist founder and national hero. His words were followed by a rash of declarations from other AKP senior figures of their regard for Ataturk. It appears to be an attempt to win wider support for the AKP.
The AKP is not going to abandon its policy of re-Islamising Turkish society.
Yet at the same time it will not push for formally dropping secularism.
Ataturk’s anti-imperialist themes will be mobilised in Turkey’s disagreements with Europe.
