The Turkey president wanted a neo-Ottoman empire but Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now fighting for survival.

Erdogan's dreams to lead the Muslim world could end prematurely as he is paying the price for his adventurism for picking unnecessary fights with world leaders and for waging costly wars.

Turkey president's allies have been deserting him and his party is breaking up. Erdogan's voters are losing faith in him and his critics have been ending up in jail in thousands.

President Erdogan's many missteps have been threatening his reign. An incident took place a few weeks back. Bulent Aarinc is a founding member of Turkey's ruling party. He is a former deputy prime minister.

He served on the presidential high advisory board. The board is the top advisor to the Turkish president. Bulent Arinc was part of Erdogan's inner circle, then suddenly, he decided to leave.

According to reports, Arinc and Erdogan had a dispute over reforms. Arinc also wanted the release of two high profile prisoners but, Erdogan was in no mood to comply. In fact, he picked a new fight. The Turkey president publicly accused his deputy of "standing with terrorists".

Meanwhile, Erdogan's top aides have been leaving him with party splintering and driving these departures is dissent and disagreement with the president.

The defections at the lower level began last year and by September last year, Erdogan had lost 8,40,000 members. Two key members of Erdogan's party left him - Ali Babajan - the former minister of economy and Ahmet Davu Tuolo, former prime minister.

The high profile exits led to more departures and whenever a top leader leaves a party he takes his supporters with him. The mass departures started showing in official data of Erdogan's party.

In August 2018, the justice and development party had almost 11 million members. In one year, the numbers dropped to less than 10 million and now even Erdogan couldn't ignore the defections. So, he tried to spin it. In a speech, he claimed that 95 per cent of the members who left have actually died.

The two top leaders who left launched their own political outfits. It split the voter base of the president's party as Erdogan's popularity took a hit. opinion polls in the last two months go against the Turkish president.

In October, 78 per cent of the people in Turkey believed that the economic situation of the country is getting worse. 58 per cent respondents who supported Erdogan's party felt that the economy is doing badly.

The president's ratings have plummeted. In the same month, support for his party fell to 28.5 per cent. In November, 46.6 per cent of the citizens of Turkey did not approve of Erdogan's performance on the job.

The Turkey president wanted a neo-Ottoman empire but Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now fighting for survival. Erdogan's dreams to lead the Muslim world could end prematurely as he is paying the price for his adventurism for picking unnecessary fights with world leaders and for waging costly wars.

The Turkey president wanted a neo-Ottoman empire but Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now fighting for survival. Erdogan's dreams to lead the Muslim world could end prematurely as he is paying the price for his adventurism for picking unnecessary fights with world leaders and for waging costly wars. Turkey president's allies have been deserting him and his party is breaking up. Erdogan's voters are losing faith in him and his critics have been ending up in jail in thousands. President Erdogan's many missteps have been threatening his reign. An incident took place a few weeks back. Bulent Aarinc is a founding member of Turkey's ruling party. He is a former deputy prime minister. He served on the presidential high advisory board. The board is the top advisor to the Turkish president. Bulent Arinc was part of Erdogan's inner circle, then suddenly, he decided to leave. According to reports, Arinc and Erdogan had a dispute over reforms. Arinc also wanted the release of two high profile prisoners but, Erdogan was in no mood to comply. In fact, he picked a new fight. The Turkey president publicly accused his deputy of "standing with terrorists". Meanwhile, Erdogan's top aides have been leaving him with party splintering and driving these departures is dissent and disagreement with the president. The defections at the lower level began last year and by September last year, Erdogan had lost 8,40,000 members. Two key members of Erdogan's party left him - Ali Babajan - the former minister of economy and Ahmet Davu Tuolo, former prime minister. The high profile exits led to more departures and whenever a top leader leaves a party he takes his supporters with him. The mass departures started showing in official data of Erdogan's party. In August 2018, the justice and development party had almost 11 million members. In one year, the numbers dropped to less than 10 million and now even Erdogan couldn't ignore the defections. So, he tried to spin it. In a speech, he claimed that 95 per cent of the members who left have actually died. The two top leaders who left launched their own political outfits. It split the voter base of the president's party as Erdogan's popularity took a hit. opinion polls in the last two months go against the Turkish president. In October, 78 per cent of the people in Turkey believed that the economic situation of the country is getting worse. 58 per cent respondents who supported Erdogan's party felt that the economy is doing badly. The president's ratings have plummeted. In the same month, support for his party fell to 28.5 per cent. In November, 46.6 per cent of the citizens of Turkey did not approve of Erdogan's performance on the job.

Erdogan fights for survival amid party defections, sliding opinion poll

A Turkish court on Thursday jailed 337 former pilots and other suspects for life in one of the largest trials stemming from the bloody 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

They were convicted of crimes including murder, trying to overthrow the constitutional order, and attempting to assassinate&nbsp;Erdogan.

Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-coup-anniversary-in-speech-erdogan-threatens-to-chop-off-traitors-heads-17955">Turkey coup anniversary: Erdogan threatens to 'chop off traitors' heads in speech</a>

More than 250 people were killed on July 15, 2016, when Turkey witnessed the bloodiest coup attempt in its political history. Rogue soldiers commandeered warplanes, helicopters and tanks and sought to take control of state institutions and overthrow the government of President Tayyip Erdogan.

<img alt="F" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="963b6546-5ecd-44af-a6f2-df7c7d898246" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2811%29_29.jpg" />

In picture: Thousands of ordinary citizens took to the streets to oppose the attempted coup in Turkey/Reuters

The trial was the highest profile of dozens of court cases targeting thousands of people accused of involvement in the coup attempt, which Ankara blamed on supporters of the US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen.

Former air force commander Akin Ozturk and others at the Akinci air base near Ankara were accused of directing the coup and bombing government buildings, including parliament, and attempting to kill Erdogan.

<img alt="F" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ddd99503-a238-4394-8c82-77be99e9cf51" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/e373c36a960b4778a992a3d6f95c0782_18.jpeg" />

In picture:&nbsp;US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen at his home in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania [Charles Mostoller/Reuters]

Four ringleaders, dubbed "civilian imams" over ties to Gulen's network, were given 79 aggravated life sentences for charges of attempting to assassinate the president, murder, and seeking to overthrow the constitutional order, state-owned Anadolu news agency said.

F-16 warplane pilots were also among those given aggravated life sentences - the severest punishment in Turkish courts - meaning there is no possibility of parole.

Turkey's then-military chief and now defence minister Hulusi Akar and other commanders were held captive for several hours at the base on the night of the coup. A total of 475 people were on trial, 365 of them in custody.

Sustained crackdown

The 79-year-old cleric Gulen, who was once an ally of Erdogan and has denied any role in the coup, was one of six defendants being tried in absentia. Their dossiers were separated from the main trial, media reports said.

The government declared a state of emergency in&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;- a NATO member and candidate for European Union membership - after the failed coup and carried out a large-scale crackdown which alarmed Ankara's Western allies.

Some 292,000 people have been detained over alleged links to Gulen, nearly 100,000 of them jailed pending trial, Anadolu cited Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu as saying.

Some 150,000 civil servants were sacked or suspended after the coup, with some 20,000 expelled from the military. Courts have handed down more than 2,500 life sentences.

Four years on, police operations targeting suspects accused of links to Gulen continue on a regular basis.

The government has said the crackdown was needed given the security challenges which&nbsp;Turkey&nbsp;has faced to root out a network of Gulen supporters deeply embedded in the state apparatus.

A Turkish court on Thursday jailed 337 former pilots and other suspects for life in one of the largest trials stemming from the bloody 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A Turkish court on Thursday jailed 337 former pilots and other suspects for life in one of the largest trials stemming from the bloody 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They were convicted of crimes including murder, trying to overthrow the constitutional order, and attempting to assassinate Erdogan. Also read| Turkey coup anniversary: Erdogan threatens to 'chop off traitors' heads in speech More than 250 people were killed on July 15, 2016, when Turkey witnessed the bloodiest coup attempt in its political history. Rogue soldiers commandeered warplanes, helicopters and tanks and sought to take control of state institutions and overthrow the government of President Tayyip Erdogan. In picture: Thousands of ordinary citizens took to the streets to oppose the attempted coup in Turkey/Reuters The trial was the highest profile of dozens of court cases targeting thousands of people accused of involvement in the coup attempt, which Ankara blamed on supporters of the US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen. Former air force commander Akin Ozturk and others at the Akinci air base near Ankara were accused of directing the coup and bombing government buildings, including parliament, and attempting to kill Erdogan. In picture: US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen at his home in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania [Charles Mostoller/Reuters] Four ringleaders, dubbed "civilian imams" over ties to Gulen's network, were given 79 aggravated life sentences for charges of attempting to assassinate the president, murder, and seeking to overthrow the constitutional order, state-owned Anadolu news agency said. F-16 warplane pilots were also among those given aggravated life sentences - the severest punishment in Turkish courts - meaning there is no possibility of parole. Turkey's then-military chief and now defence minister Hulusi Akar and other commanders were held captive for several hours at the base on the night of the coup. A total of 475 people were on trial, 365 of them in custody. Sustained crackdown The 79-year-old cleric Gulen, who was once an ally of Erdogan and has denied any role in the coup, was one of six defendants being tried in absentia. Their dossiers were separated from the main trial, media reports said. The government declared a state of emergency in Turkey - a NATO member and candidate for European Union membership - after the failed coup and carried out a large-scale crackdown which alarmed Ankara's Western allies. Some 292,000 people have been detained over alleged links to Gulen, nearly 100,000 of them jailed pending trial, Anadolu cited Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu as saying. Some 150,000 civil servants were sacked or suspended after the coup, with some 20,000 expelled from the military. Courts have handed down more than 2,500 life sentences. Four years on, police operations targeting suspects accused of links to Gulen continue on a regular basis. The government has said the crackdown was needed given the security challenges which Turkey has faced to root out a network of Gulen supporters deeply embedded in the state apparatus.

Turkey announces life imprisonment for convicts in 'bloodiest coup' against Erdogan

Turkey&#39;s parliament on Tuesday approved a government-backed motion to extend by another three months the state of emergency imposed in the wake of the July 15 failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The state of emergency, which has seen tens of thousands lose their jobs or be arrested on suspicion of links to the putsch, had already been prolonged once before and was due to expire on January 19.

Ankara argues the state of emergency is needed to eradicate the influence in Turkish institutions of the US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who it blames for the failed coup. Gulen denies the charges.

However, the state of emergency, which is now set to last at least nine months, has troubled the European Union which fears it has been used for a broad crackdown against Erdogan critics and not just suspected coup plotters.

According to the latest figures published by the state-run Anadolu news agency, over 41,000 people have been arrested over&nbsp;suspected links to Gulen in the investigation.

Meanwhile, over 103,000 people have been investigated as part of the probe, it added.

The state of emergency gives the government special powers to fire state employees and close down associations, including media groups.

It also extends the time that suspects can be held in jail without being charged.

Erdogan had in November already hinted that the state of emergency would be extended, lashing out at the European Parliament which had backed freezing membership talks with Turkey over the emergency powers.

&quot;What`s it to you?&quot; he said in comments directed at the European Parliament. &quot;Is the European Parliament in charge of this country or is the government in charge of this country?&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;Know your place!&quot; he added, in an angry tirade.

He noted that France had also put in place a state of emergency after it was hit by a string of Islamist attacks in 2015.

 
(AFP)

Ankara argues the state of emergency is needed to eradicate the influence in Turkish institutions of the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen

Turkey's parliament on Tuesday approved a government-backed motion to extend by another three months the state of emergency imposed in the wake of the July 15 failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The state of emergency, which has seen tens of thousands lose their jobs or be arrested on suspicion of links to the putsch, had already been prolonged once before and was due to expire on January 19. Ankara argues the state of emergency is needed to eradicate the influence in Turkish institutions of the US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who it blames for the failed coup. Gulen denies the charges. However, the state of emergency, which is now set to last at least nine months, has troubled the European Union which fears it has been used for a broad crackdown against Erdogan critics and not just suspected coup plotters. According to the latest figures published by the state-run Anadolu news agency, over 41,000 people have been arrested over suspected links to Gulen in the investigation. Meanwhile, over 103,000 people have been investigated as part of the probe, it added. The state of emergency gives the government special powers to fire state employees and close down associations, including media groups. It also extends the time that suspects can be held in jail without being charged. Erdogan had in November already hinted that the state of emergency would be extended, lashing out at the European Parliament which had backed freezing membership talks with Turkey over the emergency powers. "What`s it to you?" he said in comments directed at the European Parliament. "Is the European Parliament in charge of this country or is the government in charge of this country?" "Know your place!" he added, in an angry tirade. He noted that France had also put in place a state of emergency after it was hit by a string of Islamist attacks in 2015. (AFP)

Turkey extends state of emergency by three months