It’s useful to have friends (or family) in high places and that’s exactly how Turkey’s political system works.

Friends, family and political allies strategically placed in industry to help AKP and its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan stay in power.

From the once independent Sabah newspaper that was seized and then handed over to Erdogan’s son-in-law to a financial body solely consisting of Erdoğan’s appointees that seized one of the last conglomerates which owns independent newspapers and television.

In the latest attack on democracy and blatant corruption the main opposition political party is being blocked from advertising due to being “over-critical” of the government and of course who owns the advertising companies… friends of Erdogan!

“A majority of those companies are close to the ruling Justice and Development Party [AKP]. Some of them are even conducting public relations campaigns for the AKP. Now, I’m appealing to the Supreme Election Board [YSK]. It should do its duty … Who can explain this scandal?” CHP Deputy Chair Gürsel Tekin said at a press conference Dec. 12.

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