Turkey鈥檚 authoritarian-inclined Prime Minister Recep Tayipp Erdogan does not like being criticized.
He particularly doesn鈥檛 tolerate anyone questioning his policies or claiming he is undermining democratic practices.
The latest prominent person to question his increasingly authoritarian policies was the highly regarded president of Germany, Joachim Gauck.
During an official visit to Turkey, the German president publicly raised his concerns about Erdogan鈥檚 questionable commitment to democratic norms, including measures blocking freedom of the press. Gauck鈥檚 bluntness infuriated Erdogan.
Speaking to Turkish students, Gauck expressed his concern over policies by Erdogan that seemingly undermined democratic norms, particularly judicial independence and freedom of the press and media. Erdogan dismissed them as the unacceptable thoughts of someone who still thought he was a German pastor.
However, a growing number of Turks would themselves share his concern over Erdogan鈥檚 increasingly autocratic policies and actions.
As events in Ukraine have demonstrated, other countries, including Canada, quickly discover that unexpected developments in far-off lands can have serious and unpredictable consequences for other nations.
Developments in Turkey could also be of concern, as it is one of the most important nations in that region with an expanding economic clout, the largest and best-trained military and a key member of NATO. It鈥檚 also a candidate for membership in the European Union.
Paradoxically, Erdogan鈥檚 rise to power as leader of the Islamic-based Justice and Development Party was greeted as a positive development by many, including Western governments, who saw his party as a sign that a Muslim-inclined political party could share the same democratic and human-rights values common in Western democracies.
Despite the undoubted accomplishments of the Erdogan government 鈥� strong economic growth and curtailment of the previous dominant role of the Turkish military 鈥� there were increasing signs of Erdogan鈥檚 authoritarian tendencies.
Fortunately for Erdogan, the weakness of Turkey鈥檚 opposition political parties lessened the need to take into account counter views on government policies.
Erdogan, who already had little desire to consult either opposition parties or the public, increasingly adopted a negative attitude toward those who might question his policies.
That growing disenchantment with the increasingly autocratic Erdogan suddenly became evident last summer when his government unilaterally moved to close the most popular public park in the heart of Istanbul to construct a new building without public consultation.
When opponents of the park closing began a peaceful protest, the government sent in anti-riot police. That action led to clashes between the protestors and police, culminating in several deaths. That violence caused massive anti-government demonstrations that Erdogan denounced as an attempt by his opponents and so-called foreign sources to destabilize his government.
The growing opposition to Erdogan took an even more dramatic turn in late December when police wiretaps surfaced suggesting that relatives of several members of Erdogan鈥檚 cabinet, along with one of his own sons, were implicated in illicit payoffs for facilitating contract approvals.
Once again, Erdogan denounced the tapes, claiming they were attempts to overthrow his government. However, he was quick to reassign or transfer hundreds of the police and legal personnel involved in the bribery case, appointing new personnel to take charge of the investigation.
He has also claimed the corruption claims and anti-government reports have been instigated by a Turkish religious leader now living in the U.S.
Since then, the Erdogan government has taken steps to intimidate the press and media into silence, threatening Turkish media owners with tax investigations if they continue to allow reports on the alleged corruption of government officials.
Notwithstanding the current corruption scandal, Erdogan reportedly might run as a candidate in this summer鈥檚 presidential election.
The outcome of that election could determine whether authentic democracy is truly taking root in Turkey.
Harry Sterling, a former diplomat, is an Ottawa-based commentator. He served in Turkey.
