The Turkish government’s decision to demolish the runways of Ataturk Airport in Istanbul has been causing a political uproar in Turkey for several days now. Ataturk Airport has served as the main airport of Istanbul until Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to build a new airport, as part of the “grandiose projects” he has promoted, placing him as a key figure in the history of the Turkish Republic. The new airfield is supposed to be one of the largest in the world, but in the meantime, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not yet reached the expected peak. The opposition notes that the airport was built far from the city and in a problematic location due to strong winds in the area that interfere with take-offs and landings. While Ataturk Airport was connected to public transportation lines, getting to the new airport is more difficult. Thus, the project also symbolizes the shortcomings of Erdogan’s grandiose economic policy, of expensive projects without sufficient economic expectancy, which do not consider the needs of the public enough.
It is estimated that the purpose of demolishing the old airport runways is to ensure they do not compete with the new airfield and to please potential investors from the Gulf, who are expected to be involved in operating the new airfield. The demolition touched upon another sensitive point in Turkey as Erdogan has recently been trying to deal with the severe economic crisis his country is experiencing through fundraising and investments from the Gulf states. The Turkish opposition sees this as a “liquidation sale” and a violation of Turkey’s sovereignty caused by the president’s failure to run the economy.
In addition, the government’s decision not to move the name “Ataturk,” the name of the founder of the Turkish Republic, to the new airfield and the demolition of the old field are seen by opponents of the move as another step in the cultural war shaping Turkish politics, between the pro-Western and secular Ataturk loyalists to conservative and Islamic elements in the country.
For all these reasons and given that general elections are also planned in Turkey in about a year, the opposition organized demonstrations in front of the airfield, raised the issue in parliament and managed to make the fate of Ataturk Airport into a symbol for all that it claims is bad with Erdogan’s rule. The high tones reached in the debate, on a so-called marginal issue, point to the depth of political controversy within Turkey and signal the political campaign to replace Erdogan or continue his tenure is likely to be harsh.
The Turkish government’s decision to demolish the runways of Ataturk Airport in Istanbul has been causing a political uproar in Turkey for several days now. Ataturk Airport has served as the main airport of Istanbul until Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to build a new airport, as part of the “grandiose projects” he has promoted, placing him as a key figure in the history of the Turkish Republic. The new airfield is supposed to be one of the largest in the world, but in the meantime, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not yet reached the expected peak. The opposition notes that the airport was built far from the city and in a problematic location due to strong winds in the area that interfere with take-offs and landings. While Ataturk Airport was connected to public transportation lines, getting to the new airport is more difficult. Thus, the project also symbolizes the shortcomings of Erdogan’s grandiose economic policy, of expensive projects without sufficient economic expectancy, which do not consider the needs of the public enough.
It is estimated that the purpose of demolishing the old airport runways is to ensure they do not compete with the new airfield and to please potential investors from the Gulf, who are expected to be involved in operating the new airfield. The demolition touched upon another sensitive point in Turkey as Erdogan has recently been trying to deal with the severe economic crisis his country is experiencing through fundraising and investments from the Gulf states. The Turkish opposition sees this as a “liquidation sale” and a violation of Turkey’s sovereignty caused by the president’s failure to run the economy.
In addition, the government’s decision not to move the name “Ataturk,” the name of the founder of the Turkish Republic, to the new airfield and the demolition of the old field are seen by opponents of the move as another step in the cultural war shaping Turkish politics, between the pro-Western and secular Ataturk loyalists to conservative and Islamic elements in the country.
For all these reasons and given that general elections are also planned in Turkey in about a year, the opposition organized demonstrations in front of the airfield, raised the issue in parliament and managed to make the fate of Ataturk Airport into a symbol for all that it claims is bad with Erdogan’s rule. The high tones reached in the debate, on a so-called marginal issue, point to the depth of political controversy within Turkey and signal the political campaign to replace Erdogan or continue his tenure is likely to be harsh.