Anatolia (mostly) loves Erdogan

摘要

"We gave you new hospitals, we gave you proper schools," roars the mayor of Kayseri, Mehmet Ozhaseki. Veiled housewives chant back, "Kayseri is proud of you," as the mayor boasts of the achievements of the ruling Justice and Development (ak) party at an election rally in the city's Eskisehir district. Eskisehir was a slum full of squatters and open sewers until Mr Ozhaseki, a local businessman, was elected mayor in 1999. Now its pristine streets are lined with two-storey houses built on land given by ak. Mr Ozhaseki is also restoring an ancient Armenian church. "Kayseri is very nationalist, I am getting criticised for this," he confides.