Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced almost endless upheaval since he won the presidency in Aug. 2014, after more than a decade as prime minister. Here’s a look back.
August 2014 -- Erdogan sworn in
that included a promise to “abide by the constitution, the rule of law, democracy ... and the principle of the secular republic."
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, an opposition leader, said that Erdogan "will pledge allegiance to the constitution but he will lie,†citing a decade of authoritarian-style rule and past attempts to impose religion on a secular nation.
Erdogan vowed on his first day as president that the country’s “march toward the EU will continue in a more determined way.â€
September 2014 – Turkey joins ISIS coalition
After long resisting NATO’s call to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Erdogan
November 2014 – Erdogan declares women not equal
Erdogan says that the special status of women as mothers.
"You cannot put women and men on an equal footing," he said. "It is against nature. They were created differently. Their nature is different. Their constitution is different."
December 2014 – Crackdown on cleric-linked journalists
on dozens of people, including journalists who are connected to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Erdogan vows to "bring down the network of treachery and make it pay."
EU officials call the raids "incompatible with the freedom of media, which is a core principle of democracy."
June 2015 – Critic invited to huge new palace
Erdogan invites Kemal Kilicdaroglu to his new 1,150-room palace -- which cost $620 million to build -- to prove there are
June 2015 – President’s party loses majority
Erdgoan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) it has held in parliament since 2002. Coalition discussions begin.
July 2015 – Suicide bombing hits Suruc
Dozens die in a in Suruc, prompting airstrikes against ISIS.
August 2015 – Military turns focus to Kurds
against the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a terrorist group.
The country rounds up 1,300 people in an anti-terror sweep, most of who are Kurds.
October 2015 – Ankara bombing
The government blames either Kurds or ISIS.
Demonstrators chant "Murderer Erdogan!†and accuse the president of increasing tensions with Kurds in order to win back his majority in parliament.
November 2015 – AKP wins back majority
Observers say the party’s message about security and stability after terror attacks helped the AKP make gains.
"The election result has shown that the people have opted for stability and trust…" Erdogan says.
November 2015 – Turkey shoots down Russian jet
Turkey's military that crossed over its territory in Nov. 2014. Both pilots die.
Russia reacts with anger and
December 2015 – Putin lashes out
Russian President Putin from “allowing terrorists to earn money by selling oil stolen from Syria.â€
January 2016 – Academics detained, villainized
Turkish police detain 15 academics who were among 1,000 scholars that denounced the government’s crackdown against Kurds.
"Just because they have titles such as professor, doctor in front of their names does not make them enlightened. These are dark people," he says. "They are villain and vile.â€
April 2016 – Turkey says Syrian migrant deal succeeding
The number of migrants crossing into Greece illegally considerably weeks after Turkey starts taking them back, in exchange for billions of Euros and other promises from the EU.
May 2016 – Turkey recalls German ambassador
After Germany’s parliament overwhelmingly votes to call the 1915 killings of a million Armenians by Turks a century ago “genocide,†Turkey
Erdogan says that the move will “seriously impact Turkish-German relations."
June 2016 – Istanbul airport attack
At least 44 are killed when suspected ISIS suicide bombers from central Asia
Erdogan blames "forces" that don't want the country to succeed. He mentions the PKK, the Syrian Kurdish militia and ISIS.
"They have been let loose against us by the forces who hold their leashes," he says. "The bombs that explode in our country today will tomorrow explode in the hands of those who sent them."
With files from The Associated Press
