This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25439839
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Turkey's PM Erdogan faces threat from wounded ally | Turkey's PM Erdogan faces threat from wounded ally |
(about 9 hours later) | |
One Sunday in mid-June, my colleagues and I spent three hours trying to get out of a rally held in Istanbul by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. | One Sunday in mid-June, my colleagues and I spent three hours trying to get out of a rally held in Istanbul by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. |
Our car got stuck behind dozens of buses organised by Mr Erdogan's supporters. | Our car got stuck behind dozens of buses organised by Mr Erdogan's supporters. |
They had been able to call in tens of thousands of demonstrators from across the country - and drive them to and from the rally. | They had been able to call in tens of thousands of demonstrators from across the country - and drive them to and from the rally. |
At this point, it became clear that the prime minister would defeat protesters who had taken over Istanbul's Gezi Park. | At this point, it became clear that the prime minister would defeat protesters who had taken over Istanbul's Gezi Park. |
The protesters were angry. But the prime minister was organised. In Turkey, organisation wins. | The protesters were angry. But the prime minister was organised. In Turkey, organisation wins. |
Broad alliance | Broad alliance |
Recep Tayyip Erdogan now finds himself facing an opponent who is just as organised as he is: Fethullah Gulen. | Recep Tayyip Erdogan now finds himself facing an opponent who is just as organised as he is: Fethullah Gulen. |
The struggle between the two men poses a threat to Mr Erdogan's undeclared ambition to run for the presidency in 2014. | The struggle between the two men poses a threat to Mr Erdogan's undeclared ambition to run for the presidency in 2014. |
Fethullah Gulen is an Islamic scholar who founded an influential social and cultural network which now includes more than 900 schools in Turkey. | Fethullah Gulen is an Islamic scholar who founded an influential social and cultural network which now includes more than 900 schools in Turkey. |
Mr Gulen himself has lived in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999. His followers hold senior positions in the Turkish police and judiciary. | |
For years, the Gulenist movement worked alongside Recep Tayyip Erdogan's alliance of the working class and religious and business communities. | For years, the Gulenist movement worked alongside Recep Tayyip Erdogan's alliance of the working class and religious and business communities. |
This broad alliance won Mr Erdogan three general elections. | This broad alliance won Mr Erdogan three general elections. |
The Gulen movement's loyalists formed their own informal faction within the ruling AK Party. | The Gulen movement's loyalists formed their own informal faction within the ruling AK Party. |
In recent years, the Gulenists helped the prime minister to reduce the power of the armed forces. | In recent years, the Gulenists helped the prime minister to reduce the power of the armed forces. |
But, during the Gezi Park protests in June, differences between Mr Erdogan and the Gulenist movement began to emerge. | But, during the Gezi Park protests in June, differences between Mr Erdogan and the Gulenist movement began to emerge. |
Mr Gulen's supporters accused the prime minister of governing in an authoritarian manner - a charge Mr Erdogan dismissed. | Mr Gulen's supporters accused the prime minister of governing in an authoritarian manner - a charge Mr Erdogan dismissed. |
Then, in November, the government announced plans to get rid of private schools which help students to prepare for university exams, including those run by Mr Gulen's movement. | Then, in November, the government announced plans to get rid of private schools which help students to prepare for university exams, including those run by Mr Gulen's movement. |
This began the period of open conflict between allies of the prime minister and those loyal to Fethullah Gulen. | This began the period of open conflict between allies of the prime minister and those loyal to Fethullah Gulen. |
On 17 December, the police carried out dawn raids against leading businessmen and allies of the prime minister. | On 17 December, the police carried out dawn raids against leading businessmen and allies of the prime minister. |
Many here believe that these raids were orchestrated by Gulenists in the police and the judiciary. | Many here believe that these raids were orchestrated by Gulenists in the police and the judiciary. |
In June 2013, Recep Tayyip Erdogan survived the challenge posed by opposition demonstrators. | In June 2013, Recep Tayyip Erdogan survived the challenge posed by opposition demonstrators. |
But this time the challenge comes from a much more organised opponent - whose ultimate goal remains unclear. | But this time the challenge comes from a much more organised opponent - whose ultimate goal remains unclear. |
Previous version
1
Next version