| NORTH KURDISTAN (TURKEY) |
| • President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has been conducting a vigorous purge within his governing party, pledging a “serious renewal.” |
| 26 Dec 2017 – Most of those who were pushed out had failed to deliver a yes vote during the April referendum that approved constitutional changes that would give Mr. Erdogan expanded powers if he is re-elected. |
| (Political rivals suggest that Mr. Erdogan may even be preparing to call early elections in July, if it appears that his popularity is slipping.) Read New York Times Backgrounder: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/23/world/europe/turkey-erdogan-mayors.html?emc=edit_mbe_20171226&nl=morning-briefing-europe&nlid=73143833&te=1&mtrref=undefined&gwh=E5D60A51CA67FF1A811336EEDEB22341&gwt=pay |