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Remembering Erdogan’s first campaign

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will mark 20 years in politics with the March 30 local elections while under criminal investigation.
Turkey's Islamist Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan flanked by Istanbul Mayor Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) gives a thumbs-up sign to the cheering 30,000-strong crowd gathered in Istanbul's central Inonu stadium May 29 to celebrate the 544th anniversary of the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul. Turkey's ruling Islamists said today no definite decision had been taken to go to early elections or hand over power to Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller in talks between the coalition allies to solve a political crisis.

TURKEY -

To understand the critical developments occurring in Turkey today, it's crucial to consider the past. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will mark 20 years in politics with the coming local elections on March 30. When the Islamist Welfare Party (RP) scored a historic success on March 27, 1994 topping the polls in 28 provinces including in the capital Ankara, Erdogan was elected for the first time into office as the mayor of Istanbul.

The RP promised to close down dozens of unlicensed bars and restaurants serving alcohol that had operated with impunity for years in Beyoglu, on the European side. As the new mayor, Erdogan also announced plans for a large mosque and Islamic study center in Taksim Square as part of what he called the “cultural cleansing” of Beyoglu.

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