Turkey, Erdoğan told by one of the most uncomfortable journalists of the new regime

Recep Tayyp Erdoğan was a child born into a poor Anatolian family, and he became the strongman of the new Turkey, its controversial president.

A graphic novel that has just been released in Italy for Nutriments recounts the impetuous rise to power since point of view of two opponents: Can Dündar, considered one of the most inconvenient journalists of the new regime in Ankara, and Mohamed Anwar, a Sudanese-Egyptian political caricaturist. «Erdoğan, the new sultan» it is also the first work published by the newly formed Turkish-German publishing house Özgürüz Press (We are free)whose information portal has already been obscured by the Turkish regime: with this book he declares to begin his journey to defend freedom of writing.

The graphic novel reconstructs the life of young Erdoğan, from his school failures to footballing gloriesfrom the first steps in politics to the rise to power, and traces the fundamental stages of Turkish history of the last century, providing a powerful tool for understanding the present.

Its author, Can Dündar, who has signed over 30 books, and who has been director of the newspaper since 2015, tells us about it Cumhuriyetorgan of the first opposition party in Turkey. Lives in exile in Berlin, where he founded an information platform and web radio of which he is editor-in-chief. In December 2020, a Turkish court sentenced him to 27 years in prison, accusing him of terrorism and espionage.

How did Erdoğan win voters and advance in politics? Why does he appear so charismatic?
«There are several reasons: firstly, the failure of the centre-right and centre-left coalition of the governments that preceded it. Their weakness and the economic crisis of the early 2000s made Erdoğan the only option. Secondly, his ability to use religion in politics and religious rhetoric. Then, his ruthless policy without principles, but full of interests. Erdoğan can make peace today with those he declared enemies yesterday, even if circumstances have not changed. This ability, this “chameleon politics”, grants him a broad field of action in domestic and foreign policy. And there’s more too.”

Explain to us.
«To this list must be added two conjunctures which – only for him – have proved to be fortunate: 6 years ago there was the refugee crisis, today there is the war in Ukraine, which has increased Erdoğan’s need in the West and strengthened his political life. Finally, I don’t think it is too difficult to govern a country in which you have full control of the legislative, executive and judicial powers, as well as the media, civil society, capital and academia”.

Why did the population allow the return of Islam in politics?
“I don’t think the majority of the country is in favor of an Islamic government. The percentage does not exceed 10%. But there is a kind of Islamist solidarity within the Erdoğan-dominated bureaucracy. This is why many poor people pretend to be Islamists: they want to benefit from this solidarity. I believe that the majority of Turkish society is in favor of secularism.”

Erdoğan describes himself as a “conservative democrat”. And how would you define it?
“An autocrat. An autocrat whose main objective is to line his own pockets, and who does not hesitate to use religion, ideology, the state and society for his own interests”.

Who are Erdoğan’s voters?
«They are divided into several groups: the first is that of fanatics, who number around 10-15%, and who see Erdoğan as a sacred religious leader and believe everything he says. Then there’s another 20% who have a “vested” interest: either they’re receiving welfare benefits or have family members who work for the government, and are afraid of losing their benefits. Another 10% are those who previously supported Erdoğan and now no longer, but are waiting in a gray area because they still don’t trust the opposition.”

Erdoğan has proposed himself as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine. What is his real goal?
“It is trying to regain its former international prestige. Since he can’t find a place in the West, he’s looking for a way to gain space in the East, and he plays that role. On the one hand, it is buying air defense systems from Russia, on the other, it is selling weapons to Ukraine. But the West is so desperate that it is encouraging him to play this role.”

How?
“Europe wants the war to end. But she doesn’t have the will, power and influence to end it. You don’t want to risk being a war target. That is why you are hoping for a result from the meetings between Erdogan and Putin. This is called despair. But giving credit to Erdogan, who has turned into a dictator, means ignoring his repressive regime and giving up human rights for everyday interests. Unfortunately, this is Europe’s position at the moment.

Will Erdoğan be re-elected?
«We are talking about a country where there is no free press, no independent judiciary, no strong civil society. Last week, Erdoğan imposed a political veto on the mayor of Istanbul, who is seen as his strongest rival. The opposition has no tools at its disposal. And external dynamics also favor Erdoğan. But the vast majority of people are fed up with 20 years of regime, especially as the economic crisis worsens. For the moment, the elections seem to me to be balanced».

What life does a journalist lead in a state where freedom of the press is seriously threatened?
«I answer with a quote from Churchill: “Democracy means that when someone knocks on your door at 3 in the morning, it is probably the milkman”. When reporters in Turkey hear a knock on their door at night, they have no doubt it’s the police. 80% of the media works as Erdoğan’s propaganda machine. The other journalists are in prison, in exile or are threatened with arrest at any moment.’

Why did you choose the form of the graphic novel?
«To reach the new generations, because it is a format in which I can better tell Erdoğan and my point of view on him. And because I know Erdoğan’s dislike for comics well (laughs, ed)».