Why is Erdogan rushing into a referendum now?
While Turkey's economic and security vulnerabilities increase, Erdogan has run out of enemies to rally his base against for the April referendum.
The public seems quiet in Turkey. One may think this silence means everyone is happy, as government statistics claim. On the other hand, one might suspect that in the current system where protests are banned, dissent is promptly punished and courts are compromised, there are almost no venues to air public grievances. Perhaps the public silence indicates a deep resentment and fear, rather than happiness with government services.
In the past couple of years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has often repeated the phrase, “We have been cheated,” as a way of escaping responsibility. Does his lack of accountability signal an approaching legitimacy crisis in Turkey?
As the vote nears on a referendum that would grant Erdogan unprecedented power, the questions heard most often are, “Why is Erdogan pushing for the referendum? What will he accomplish that he has not been able to do so far?” But Erdogan's presidential dreams are evolving, as Al-Monitor has been reporting since early 2013.
So what's his hurry? Despite the illusion that Erdogan has a strong grip on all aspects of government, he is gradually losing control.
