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Erdogan’s victory unlikely to bring stability for Turkey

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's presidential election victory is unlikely to bring a period of political calm and stability to Turkey in the foreseeable future.
A presidential election campaign banner of Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, with a slogan that reads "Man of the nation", hangs on a street near his ruling AK Party headquarters in Ankara August 11, 2014. Turkey's ruling party begins deliberations on the shape of the next government on Monday after Erdogan secured his place in history by winning the nation's first direct presidential election. Erdogan's victory in Sunday's vote takes him a step closer to the executive presidency he has long coveted f
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The key question about Turkey’s first direct presidential elections was never centered on whether Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the main contender, would win or lose. He was always slated to win and he did, with 52% of the vote in the first round of voting in the elections on Aug. 10.

His popularity among Turkey’s conservative and devoutly Islamic masses, combined with the fact that he used all the political advantages of being in power in full against his rivals, ensured an outcome that was apparent weeks in advance.

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