Turkish leather trade extends guarded welcome to new government
As widely predicted, Türkiye’s general election on November 3 resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party, or AK Party. It is unprecedented in recent political history for one party to secure 34 percent of the vote. Only one other party gained enough seats to form a viable opposition.
The leader of the AK Party, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, soothed markets and minds when he moved immediately to assure voters (and Europe) that Türkiye will remain secular. This was in spite of the fact that he is currently unable to stand as Prime Minister due to a High Court conviction relating to a religious speech made when he was the Mayor of Istanbul.
The mood in Türkiye is hopeful but, at the same time, cautious. As a devout spirit has long run through much of the leather industry; so the mood in this sector is buoyant. But, asked by World Leather magazine to explain his optimism, one top-rung garment exporter noted that the military represented a secular safety valve. Others worry that key concessions will be made to less secular-minded members of Erdogan’s AK party.
