"Erdogan becomes Turkish Putin" Russian historian on the results of the referendum-Exclusive

Interviews 15:39 17.04.2017

Russian political scientist, candidate of historical sciences Oleg Kuznetsov answered Eurasia Diary's questions regarding the referendum held yesterday in Turkey. He spoke about the split in Turkish society and about the consequences of the new reform.

Recall, yesterday Turkey held a national referendum, according to which the majority of the population voted for the expansion of presidential powers. The amendments to the constitution will give President Erdogan unprecedented powers.

Eurasia Diary: Mr. Kuznetsov, why did the Turkish people support the reform?

Oleg Kuznetsov: Let's be honest, the preponderance of 52% of votes against 48% is almost minimal, so I would not say that the entire Turkish population supported Erdogan's innovations. we can name it the majority only when it is explicit  part of society, or as the lawyers say, "qualified" which is the two-thirds or three-quarters of the votes. If this was the case in a referendum of Turkey, then it would be possible to speak about the support of the majority. With such a vote, I cannot be so optimistic. It appears to be not an Erdogan's victory, but the split in Turkish society.

Absolutely all international analysts pay attention to the fact that the resident of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, ie, cities - millionaires, centers of concentration of capital and business, did not support the idea of ​​a final transition from a parliamentary republic to a presidential one. After the referendum, the confrontation between Erdogan and the elites will not only  weaken, but also intensify on the contrary. If, up to this point, Erdogan was opposed by the army and bureaucracy, devoted to the ideas of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, now big business can stand in opposition to Erdogan, after which his political future will be under serious question.

Eurasia Diary: What is the position of the Russian side on such a reform?

Oleg Kuznetsov: The model of the state administration that Turkey chose for itself in the last referendum is no different from the form of government that exists today in Russia or in Azerbaijan. Therefore, it is understandable and familiar for the Russian political science community, at least for the part that does not earn a living by populism and commenting on events for the sake of political conjuncture. Based on the results of the referendum, Erdogan becomes a Turkish Putin with all the inherent mechanisms of "manual control" of the state by mechanisms and tools. Today we can only state one fact: the republic of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk became a part of past history.

Eurasia Diary: What will the reform actually change? How will the situation in the region and the relationship with the EU alter?

Oleg Kuznetsov: Any referendum has an impact, first of all, on internal political processes in the country, rather than its foreign policy. there are many states in the world with various forms of government, and this does not have the slightest influence on their position in the international arena. In general, I would not link state-legal and foreign policy aspects. Usually, any state in its foreign policy demonstrates the coordinated will of the ruling elites, and the referendum in Turkey has so far led to a split in society. It will take time for the upper layers of society to regain consensus in a new configuration for itself, and until that happens, it will be extremely reckless to talk about any specific impact of the results of the referendum in Turkey on the foreign policy of this country.


Interviewed by Natalya Guliyeva

 

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

UNRWA calls for immediate fuel delivery to Israel-blockaded Gaza before shutdown of basic services
21:45 05.07.2025
Pashinyan: Armenia needs new constitution
21:20 05.07.2025
UN chief condemns Russia's recent 'series of large-scale' attacks on Ukraine
21:00 05.07.2025
Kazakh servicemen arrive in Azerbaijan to participate in Tarlan - 2025 exercise
20:45 05.07.2025
Erdogan: US has crucial role in achieving ceasefire in Gaza
20:20 05.07.2025
Building collapse in Pakistan kills 15
19:45 05.07.2025
Turkish FM Fidan to attend 17th BRICS Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro
19:30 05.07.2025
Australia pledges $283M for green energy project by explosives maker
19:10 05.07.2025
OPEC+ speeds up oil output hikes, adds 548,000 bpd in August
18:45 05.07.2025
Inter completes signing of Ange-Yoan Bonny from Parma
18:20 05.07.2025
Turkish president sees Zangazur corridor 'as part of the geoeconomic revolution'
18:00 05.07.2025
Turkish president urges Azerbaijan, Russia to show restrain amid tension
17:45 05.07.2025
China says war 'not a solution' to Iranian nuclear issue
17:15 05.07.2025
At least 18 people injured after fire alert on Ryanair plane in Majorca as passengers abandon jet & leap from wing
17:00 05.07.2025
Azerbaijani PM meets with UNESCAP executive secretary
16:45 05.07.2025
Lebanese president affirms coordination with Syria, warns against sectarian tensions
16:15 05.07.2025
21 killed in Israeli strikes on tents, school-turned-shelters in Gaza Strip
16:00 05.07.2025
Turkish construction sector takes on international projects worth $6.2B in first half of 2025
15:45 05.07.2025
Azerbaijani woman wrestler becomes European champion
15:30 05.07.2025
Mayor: Death toll in Russian attacks on Kyiv reached two
15:15 05.07.2025
Texas floods kill 24 people and leave many missing from girls' summer camp
14:45 05.07.2025
Conor McGregor has interest in White House fight after Trump's UFC idea
14:30 05.07.2025
Netanyahu era sees 40% surge in Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank
14:15 05.07.2025
Equatorial Guinea sues France in UN court to block sale of Paris mansion
14:00 05.07.2025
US president 'disappointed' over phone call with Putin
13:45 05.07.2025
Academy of Azerbaijan`s State Security Service hosts graduation ceremony
13:30 05.07.2025
Azerbaijan and Pakistan ink memo in Khankendi
13:15 05.07.2025
Trump says there could be Gaza deal next week
13:00 05.07.2025
First flight from Türkiye to Syria launched
12:45 05.07.2025
US marks its 249th anniversary of independence
12:30 05.07.2025
Azerbaijan's role in regional integration discussed at London conference
12:00 05.07.2025
Uzbek Minister: Mirziyoyev's visit to Azerbaijan crucial for dev’t of transport links
11:45 05.07.2025
Trump says US will start talks with China on TikTok deal this week
11:30 05.07.2025
Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif concludes visit to Azerbaijan
11:15 05.07.2025
Pakistani premier proposes low-emissions corridor at Economic Cooperation Organization summit
11:00 05.07.2025
Rwanda pledges to deliver on its part of US-brokered peace deal with DR Congo
10:45 05.07.2025
Hezbollah rejects calls to disarm before end of Israeli ‘aggression’ against Lebanon
10:30 05.07.2025
Trump says Gaza ceasefire deal may come next week after ‘positive’ Hamas response
10:15 05.07.2025
Taiwan's ruling party launches campaign to oust opposition lawmakers
10:00 05.07.2025
EU says situation around GHF food distribution centers in Gaza 'untenable'
21:30 04.07.2025
Hamısı