Hürriyet Daily News published an article by Semih Idiz headlined "A leader the West will have to contend with" and devoted to Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
"The more Erdoğan hits at the West – the way he did on Tuesday, May 13, again – the more points score in Turkey, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and even parts of South America. He is not just a source of admiration for Islamists anymore. He has become the voice in the world of the previously voiceless masses against what is seen as an arrogant West, riddled with double standards," the article begins.
"Western leaders and politicians may throw barbs in his direction, but this is all water off a duck’s back for him. He has no worries or concerns about any political or economic retribution from anyone. Turkey has enough critical mass politically and economically today for him to wipe this aside with the back of his hand," the author writes. "He can shout down the German President, tell the U.S. ambassador he is only in Ankara on sufferance, and blast at Freedom House for spreading misinformation about press freedoms in Turkey and it all works to his advantage."
"Having no faith, trust or love left for Europe, he is prepared to risk Turkey’s Council of Europe membership by telling the ECHR where it can get off," the article reads." Erdoğan will refuse to pay the compensation, of course, which is bound to score more points for him at home being an issue that unites everyone."
"His remarks about remaining committed to Turkey’s EU membership bid, on the other hand, are only uttered for the sake of diplomacy. Erdoğan is, after all, the one who half-jokingly and half-seriously asked President Putin to help Turkey join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in return for which he said he would dump the EU," the article reads.
"He also believes Europe can only go so far in “punishing Turkey” because of strategic reasons that still require Turkey to remain in the Western fold. This is the Erdoğan the West is going to have to contend with once he is elected president, as many expect him to be," the author of the article believes.
