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Turkey’s Erdogan, Seeking a More Powerful Presidency, Cites Hitler’s System Turkey Says Hitler Comment by President Erdogan Was ‘Distorted’
(about 2 hours later)
ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, who is pushing to imbue the largely ceremonial presidency with sweeping executive powers akin to the United States or France, gave a new example of an effective presidential system late Thursday: Hitler’s Germany. ISTANBUL — Turkey issued a statement on Friday saying that comments by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — in which he cited Hitler in response to a question about whether a strong presidency was possible in Turkey — had been misinterpreted.
After returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Erdogan was asked by the Turkish news media whether a presidential system was possible given that the government is now organized under a prime minister. Mr. Erdogan, who is pushing to imbue the largely ceremonial presidency with sweeping executive powers, told reporters late Thursday that “there are already examples in the world.”
“There are already examples in the world,” Mr. Erdogan said. “You can see it when you look at Hitler’s Germany.” “You can see it when you look at Hitler’s Germany,” he said.
Hitler, who became chancellor of Germany in 1933, assumed the presidency in 1934, a move that allowed him to consolidate power to become the Führer. Mr. Erdogan did not elaborate, but his comparison to Hitler drew immediate criticism because of what many view as his increasing authoritarianism. His comment also raised the issue of how the leader of one of the world’s most influential countries, an American ally and member of NATO, would mention Hitler in the context of his own tenure.
While Mr. Erdogan did not elaborate, his comment is bound to raise concern among critics who view him as increasingly authoritarian. On Friday, the office of the presidency said that “Erdogan’s ‘Hitler’s Germany metaphor’ has been distorted by media outlets and has been used in the opposite sense.”
It said Mr. Erdogan had used the example to demonstrate that an executive presidency does not depend on a federal system of government.
“If the system is abused, it may lead to bad management resulting in disasters as in Hitler’s Germany,” the statement said. “The important thing is to pursue fair management that serves the nation.”
Mr. Erdogan became Turkey’s first popularly elected president in August 2014, having dominated Turkish politics for more than a decade as prime minister. Since assuming the new post, he has aggressively campaigned to rewrite the Turkish Constitution and establish an executive system of government.Mr. Erdogan became Turkey’s first popularly elected president in August 2014, having dominated Turkish politics for more than a decade as prime minister. Since assuming the new post, he has aggressively campaigned to rewrite the Turkish Constitution and establish an executive system of government.
His consolidation of power has had a potent effect on Turkish society. Critics say Mr. Erdogan’s divisive rhetoric, in which he has denigrated opponents as terrorists or traitors, has helped polarize the country.His consolidation of power has had a potent effect on Turkish society. Critics say Mr. Erdogan’s divisive rhetoric, in which he has denigrated opponents as terrorists or traitors, has helped polarize the country.
A government crackdown on dissent — including a growing campaign of intimidation against the opposition news media, with a mob of his supporters attacking newspaper offices ahead of the November election — has raised concerns domestically and abroad about Turkey’s commitment to democracy.A government crackdown on dissent — including a growing campaign of intimidation against the opposition news media, with a mob of his supporters attacking newspaper offices ahead of the November election — has raised concerns domestically and abroad about Turkey’s commitment to democracy.
To change the Constitution, Mr. Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, which regained its parliamentary majority in November, needs support from opposition parties, who fear that such a system would consolidate too much power in Mr. Erdogan’s hands.To change the Constitution, Mr. Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, which regained its parliamentary majority in November, needs support from opposition parties, who fear that such a system would consolidate too much power in Mr. Erdogan’s hands.
Last week, Turkey’s main opposition party said it would back some changes to an outdated Constitution, which was drawn up by the military after a 1980 coup, but it does not support an all-powerful presidential system envisioned by Mr. Erdogan.Last week, Turkey’s main opposition party said it would back some changes to an outdated Constitution, which was drawn up by the military after a 1980 coup, but it does not support an all-powerful presidential system envisioned by Mr. Erdogan.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, that a presidential system would not lead to a dictatorship.Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, that a presidential system would not lead to a dictatorship.
“What is right for Turkey is to adopt the presidential system in line with the democratic spirit,” he said in a television interview this week. “This system will not evolve into dictatorship, but if we do not have this spirit, even the parliamentary system can turn into this dictatorship.”“What is right for Turkey is to adopt the presidential system in line with the democratic spirit,” he said in a television interview this week. “This system will not evolve into dictatorship, but if we do not have this spirit, even the parliamentary system can turn into this dictatorship.”
On Thursday, there was little reaction to Mr. Erdogan’s comments, which were made late in the day. Part of that may be attributed to nervousness about insulting the president, which could bring a jail term, and part to the quiet of the New Year’s holiday. In Turkey, reaction to his remarks was strong on social media.
Still, some people reacted on social media.
“Let’s do a close comparison between Hitler and Erdogan,” one person wrote on Twitter. “The only difference is that Hitler was a bit shorter.”“Let’s do a close comparison between Hitler and Erdogan,” one person wrote on Twitter. “The only difference is that Hitler was a bit shorter.”
People also shared a Photoshopped picture of Hitler with Mr. Erdogan’s face superimposed on it.People also shared a Photoshopped picture of Hitler with Mr. Erdogan’s face superimposed on it.