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Erdogan's first term as Turkish president: 4 things to watch for (+video)
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's first directly elected president, faces civil wars on his borders, a possible economic slowing, and accusations of authoritarianism.By Alexander Christie-Miller, Correspondent August 28, 2014
Istanbul — Recep Tayyip Erdogan has already been proclaimed Turkey’s most powerful leader since its founder and first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
But while Mr. Erdogan, who was inaugurated today as Turkey’s 12th president, appears to have the country at his feet, his administration may face its share of turbulence.
In 11 years as prime minister, the former Islamist has overseen a decade of growth and investment that has helped earn him broad popular support – earlier this month, he won Turkey's first direct presidential election with 52 percent. And he has successfully faced down the old military and bureaucratic elites that had meddled undemocratically in Turkish politics for decades.
But he has also evoked fear and hostility among the secular middle class, who accuse him of pursuing a conservative Sunni Islamic agenda.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2014/0828/Erdogan-s-first-term-as-Turkish-president-4-things-to-watch-for-video