Newsweek: Erdoğan's runoff challenges West's dictator narrative

US Newsweek published an opinion piece that criticized Western newspapers for their frequent use of the derogatory term 'dictator' in reference to President Erdogan. The article, titled 'Don't call Erdogan a dictator, dictators won't go to the 2nd round,' highlights the continuous use of such labels by Western media. It points out that these headlines and content, such as 'Can a different alliance end Recep Tayyip Erdogan's authoritarian rule?' and 'From democrat to autocrat, how Erdogan has made Turkey authoritarian again,' have been called into question for their biased and sensationalized approach to reporting. The piece challenges the portrayal of President Erdogan and underscores the importance of fair and accurate journalism. The criticism aimed to draw attention to the biased portrayal of Erdogan and questioned the validity of such characterizations, suggesting that they oversimplify the complex political dynamics in Turkey. Newsweek, in its coverage, highlights that the Western media's portrayal of the situation does not align with the reality of Erdogan's election through democratic processes. The article emphasizes the importance of recognizing and accepting the election results rather than condemning them, dismissing the notion of 'We have to accept the result even if we don't like it' as misguided. Newsweek suggests that a more nuanced and objective approach is needed in Western media reporting, taking into account the democratic nature of Erdogan's election and avoiding biased interpretations. In a news article addressing the electoral situation, it was highlighted that President Erdogan required only 1% of the votes to secure victory. The article also mentioned that the opposition had been consistently making claims of election rigging until they themselves won an election. However, it emphasized that these allegations of rigging were baseless and lacked substantial evidence. The presidential election in Turkey has reached a runoff stage as neither incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor his challenger Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu secured more than 50 percent of the vote. 'Liberals and Western media don't believe in Turkish elections; they call it rigged by the authoritarian regime. They think they are sounding the alarm of democracy. What they actually sound like is former President Donald Trump: Don't like the results? Call foul, accuse your opponent of election rigging, foreign interference, and then, because you're a liberal, call him a totalitarian dictator,' Newsweek Columnist Asaad Sam Hanna stressed in the article titled 'Stop Calling Erdogan a Dictator. Dictators Don't Go to Runoffs'. 'Turkey's political system and regional context set it apart as a Middle Eastern democracy rather than a Western one. President Erdogan's democratic election as the country's leader is noteworthy in a region where regular elections are not always held. In contrast, neighboring countries often witness election outcomes with disproportionately high percentages of victory for incumbents, raising concerns about electoral integrity. The fact that Turkey's election process includes a runoff stage further highlights its commitment to transparent and competitive elections, distinguishing it from those characterized by allegations of rigging,' Hanna said in a statement. Accusations of foreign interference in elections can be a contentious issue, and the Turkish opposition, including Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has blamed their loss on alleged Russian interference. Kılıçdaroğlu specifically accused Russia of spreading misinformation through deepfakes. Furthermore, his meeting with the American ambassador to Turkey, Jeff Flake, provided an opportunity for President Erdogan to criticize the opposition for collaborating with the United States. In response to these allegations, President Erdogan claimed that U.S. President Joe Biden instructed his administration to 'topple Erdogan.' He asserted that this information is known to him and the Turkish people, and suggested that the upcoming election results would provide an answer to Biden's alleged intentions. While the impact of deepfakes on social media is considered a form of interference, the meeting between Kılıçdaroğlu and the American ambassador in real life raises questions about potential U.S. interference.