The nationwide demonstrations following the police brutality against a small group of peaceful protesters in Istanbul’s Gezi Park has provided Turkish President Abdullah Gul with an opportunity to display unifying leadership.
This is increasingly crucial at a time when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears determined to use his electoral victory to pursue policies that are driven by his Islamist outlook and dividing the nation dangerously. The vitriolic tone Erdogan insists on maintaining against the 50% that did not vote for him in June 2011 will make such leadership stand out even more in the coming period.
