The Los Angeles Times quotes Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis J. Ricciardone on why the Turkish election strips President Erdogan of much of his former glory:
Some analysts pointed out that it is easy to forget that Erdogan skillfully harnessed powerful political impulses that remain widely felt in Turkey — and could do so again.
“He is still president for the next four years, and he has considerable authorities, and has by all accounts exploited every one of them,” said Francis J. Ricciardone, a former US ambassador to Turkey who is now Vice President and Director of the Atlantic Council think tank. “He is clearly going to be influential.”