Turkey president Erdogan once sold water bottles, failed to become football player, then became Turkey’s political dictator after…

During the India-Pakistan tensions, another country that frequently made headlines was Turkey, especially due to its President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan served as Turkey’s Prime Minister from 2003 to 2014, and then took over as President. To tighten his grip on power, he replaced the parliamentary system with a presidential one, effectively making himself the most powerful figure in the country.

When Erdogan first came to power, he promised political, social, and economic reforms. But over time, as the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), he started behaving more like a dictator, using every possible means to suppress opposition. Like Pakistan, Turkey once had a military that played a strong role in national policymaking. The country was facing soaring debt and high inflation, and in the middle of rising protests demanding reforms, Erdogan’s political rise accelerated.

A childhood marked by poverty

Erdogan’s early life was far from easy. Born in a conservative Muslim family in Güneysu, he was one of five siblings. At the age of 13, his family moved to Istanbul in hopes of finding a better life.

In Istanbul, his father would give him less than one dollar to survive for the whole week. To make extra money, Erdogan sold postcards, bottled water to drivers stuck in traffic, and even bread on the streets as a vendor. He once aspired to become a professional football player, but fate had other plans and politics eventually became his path.

Erdogan’s education qualification

Erdogan completed his high school education in 1973 from an Imam Hatip school, which focuses on religious studies. There, he studied the Quran, Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, and the Arabic language. In 1976, as communities with strong religious beliefs were gaining influence, Erdogan got involved in student politics and became the head of the Istanbul youth branch.

In 1980, Turkey experienced a military coup, and Erdogan started working, but he remained connected to Islamic political ideas. Known for his powerful speaking skills, he quickly gained popularity. At Marmara University, he met his political mentor Necmettin Erbakan and joined Erbakan’s religious political party in 1983.

Mayor of Istanbul and becoming the PM

In 1994, Erdogan was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul on the ticket of the Welfare Party. However, in 1998, he was found guilty of spreading religious hatred. As a result, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison and had to resign from his position as mayor.

Erdogan returned to politics in 1999 following his release from prison. He distanced himself from religious fanaticism and after his mentor’s Virtue Party was banned in 2001, he founded his own Justice and Development Party (AKP). In the 2002 elections, his party won a clear majority, but due to his previous conviction, Erdogan was initially barred from becoming Prime Minister. However, he won a by-election in 2003 and officially took office on May 14.

Rise through reforms

When Erdogan came to power, many feared an increase in religious extremism, but instead, he strengthened ties with the US and Europe. He also took a firmer stance on issues like Iraq and Cyprus. In 2008, he lifted the ban on girls wearing the hijab in Turkey’s schools. Though his party faced the threat of being banned in 2008, Erdogan countered opposition from extremists and the military by calling a referendum that held the military accountable through courts and increased the government’s influence over judicial appointments.

Long stay in power

Erdogn won a third consecutive election in June 2011. He aimed to introduce a presidential system but lacked the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution. In 2014, Turkey held its first direct presidential election, which Erdogan won. As president, he gradually increased his power.

Abolishing the Prime Minister role

After winning the presidency again in April 2017, Erdogan abolished the position of Prime Minister and made the presidency the head of government through a referendum. However, Turkey is currently facing serious economic challenges such as the collapse of the Turkish lira and soaring inflation. Erdogan is focusing on winning support from Islamic extremist groups and allies like Pakistan. He is also playing a mediator role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and opposing Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO.

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