ISTANBUL // For most of the protesters who have rallied in bcity streets across Turkey in recent days, the marches and demonstrations are not so much about political projects or government policies, let alone about saving trees in an Istanbul park from bulldozers. Their anger is directed, often bitterly, against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself.
"The problem is Tayyip," Cihat Parilti said yesterday at Gezi Park, the focus of the protests that started last Friday when police tried to end a sit-in by activists aimed at preventing the park from being razed to make way for a shopping mall. Mr Parilti, a 21-year-old university student, has been encamped in the park since last week.
Anger at Mr Erdogan, 59, Turkey's most powerful prime minister since the 1950s, is the glue that binds protesters across many walks of life, Mr Parilti and other demonstrators and their supporters said.
"Everybody is here, except AKP voters," said Ahmet, 62, referring to Mr Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party.
Ahmet, who identified himself only with his first name, said he had come to Gezi Park to cheer on the demonstrators and join the chorus against a premier who had "divided the country".
Savas Halvasi, 50, a tourism manager, said Mr Erdogan's harsh, judgemental rhetoric had put off many people over the years.
"He is saying that everyone who does not agree with him is bad," Mr Halvasi said about Mr Erdogan, who has been in office since 2003. "He has to be more receptive to criticism. The protests have taught him a lesson: the Turks are not like sheep."
Mr Erdogan only experienced the bile from afar yesterday - he is on a tour of North Africa tour with a delegation of 300 Turkish business leaders. But the man in charge of the government in his absence, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, yesterday apologised to demonstrators injured by police and promised to reassess the Gezi Park development project. The protesters were unmoved.
"It has to come from Tayyip himself," said Tamer Aksu, a businessman, who like many demonstrators used Mr Erdogan's first name.
People in the park yesterday accused Mr Erdogan of pushing projects through without consulting the wider public and of trying to force a religiously conservative agenda on the country. The Gezi Park project, a plan to build a new bridge spanning the Bosphorus and a recent law restricting the sale of alcohol were among the examples of what the demonstrators described as Mr Erdogan's overbearing, schoolmarmish style.
"He has said that everyone who drinks alcohol is an alcoholic," Mr Halvasi said. "I drink a glass every now and then, but that doesn't mean I am an alcoholic," he added. "People have had enough."
These fed-up people include "professors down to shoeshine boys", said Vildan Uyguroglu, an unemployed university graduate, as she handed out chocolate in Gezi Park. Along with other food, clothes and medicine, the candy was one of the donations from supporters of the demonstrators that were being distributed there yesterday.
With a governing style that the demonstrators and their supporters view as increasingly authoritarian, Mr Erdogan has "created this very unusual coalition against himself", said Cengiz Aktar, a political scientist at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University, located in the Besiktas neighbourhood, which saw some of the fiercest clashes between demonstrators and police in recent days.
According to Turkey's interior ministry, there have been protest marches in 67 of Turkey's 81 provinces, which suggests that the demonstrations are turning out more than just members of the urban middle and upper classes.
Mr Erdogan has insisted that he retains a wide reservoir of support across the country.
He said on Monday that he was "barely holding back 50 per cent" of the Turkish population from flooding the streets to confront the protesters. The figure was a reference to the percentage of the vote that the AKP won in at the last general election two years ago.
The prime minister has accused the main opposition party, the secularist Republican People's Party (CHP), of orchestrating the protests. But the protest in Gezi Park started independently of the CHP last week, and some protesters dismissed suggestions that the opposition party enjoyed much support among the demonstrators.
"Last Saturday, CHP leaders wanted to come to Taksim Square and hold speeches," said one student in the square next to the Gezi Park. "But they turned back when they saw they were not welcome."
This scorn for one possible institutional channel for the demonstrators' discontent was another indication of how ephemeral the protests may prove to be.
Indeed, Professor Aktar suggested that Turkey's informal coalition of the disenchanted was unlikely to remain united for long, for they have little in common beyond their anger at Mr Erdogan.
"These are people who are not used to sitting together," he said.
Several AKP supporters who strolled through the park yesterday said the prime minister would emerge stronger than ever from the crisis.
"Look at all the burned-out police cars and municipal vehicles," said Cedal Akyildiz, 30, a construction worker. "Who is going to pay for that? It's us, with our tax money." He said the protests had not changed his view of Mr Erdogan as "Number one".
Asked whether he expected any consequences of the current protests for upcoming elections, Mr Akyildiz answered: "Tayyip will get even more votes."
tseibert@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Sleep Well Beast
The National
4AD
Where%20the%20Crawdads%20Sing
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOlivia%20Newman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Daisy%20Edgar-Jones%2C%20Taylor%20John%20Smith%2C%20Harris%20Dickinson%2C%20David%20Strathairn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Bullet%20Train
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Leitch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Aaron%20Taylor-Johnson%2C%20Brian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Sandra%20Bullock%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20101hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20135Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Six-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh79%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eco%20Way%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20December%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Kroshnyi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electric%20vehicles%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bootstrapped%20with%20undisclosed%20funding.%20Looking%20to%20raise%20funds%20from%20outside%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
The five pillars of Islam
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Premier League results
Saturday
Crystal Palace 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
Cardiff City 2 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Bournemouth 2
Leicester City 3 Fulham 1
Newcastle United 3 Everton 2
Southampton 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Manchester City 3 Watford 1
Sunday
Liverpool 4 Burnley 2
Chelsea 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Arsenal 2 Manchester United 0
ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019
Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital
Top pick: National Commercial Bank
Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects
Analyst: Shabbir Malik of EFG-Hermes
Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank
Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates
Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank
Top pick: Arab National Bank
Reason: Attractive valuation and good growth potential in terms of both balance sheet and dividends
