Turkey is sliding into authoritarianism (Western liberal critique)

Turkey's domestic politics are the subject of this position, which holds that the country is sliding into authoritarianism, eroding the rule of law and democratic checks. Its advocates speak of political persecution, the weaponisation of the judiciary, pressure on press freedom and the consolidation of power by neutralising challengers.

The position is voiced by 14 outlets, mainly European, in the dispute over democratic backsliding in Turkey. The material names no individual speakers.

No competing position is named. The point of parting is whether the cases cited are abuses of power or the lawful working of Turkish institutions; President Erdogan said Turkey would not allow coups to halt its development path. Recent events carry the dispute. An Istanbul court sentenced Ekrem Imamoglu, a rival of Erdogan, to two years in prison and a political ban in a trial described as controversial, and riot police entered the headquarters of the main opposition party, the CHP, firing tear gas and rubber bullets, to evict its ousted leadership.