Erdogan wins massively in local Turkey elections (As Pres clinton said "Its the economy stupid")

[rafeh1]

Turkey has paid off its 23.5 billion dollar debt to the IMF and is in a position to offer loans to that institution. It has also started paying fees for infirm patients and distributed free books and 75,000 free tablet computers to students. Unemployment is under 10% despite the recent influx of refugees. These services matter to the public. Many non-affiliated voters decide the ruling party according to the services that party has provided.



The Turkish people, matured by military coups and interventions, have developed a tradition of protecting democratic governance no matter what. Therefore, attacking a legitimate government through illegitimate means was not welcomed by the public. No one wanted to get used to the idea of toppling a government through illicit surveillance tapes, as this would mean showing no respect for the ballot box.



http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2014/03/29/What-s-next-for-Erdogan-amid-Turkey-s-elections-.html

[PoliticAverse]

1. Actually it was James Carville...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_the_economy,_stupid

[Lord Magus]

2. Erdogan's party "won" in much the same way that Bush won Florida in 2000.

A rigged election doesn't give a mandate.

[rafeh1]

3. winning by 15 pts in an EU monitored election is not a rigged election

The standard meme when US/Israeli backed candidates lose elections is that elections are rigged. Erdogans party won going away in a EU monitored election. The opposition have for the most part accepted the results except for some close calls which are being recounted.