IT is no longer news that democracy in Turkey has been in the eye of the storm in recent years, no thanks to the often unpopular policies regularly churned out by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Issues of blatant disregard for freedom of expression, frequent crack down on the media and politically-motivated arrests under the watchful eyes of the president are so rife in Turkey that many begin to question the seriousness of the government’s quest to join the European Union, EU, a body known for its firm stance against anti-democratic practices.

But how come that Erdogan who has been a major beneficiary of democracy is now the one waging an endless war to subvert  the very system that brought him to power for more than a decade now?

While this mind-boggling question continues to remind me of the popular African proverb, “who the spirit wants to destroy is first made mad by the spirit”, close watchers of events in the strategic country believe that Erdogan’s tilt towards authoritarianism may not be unconnected with his quest to consolidate his hold on power even in the face of plunging popularity rating.

The security law that was recently packaged by Erdogan and members of his inner circle in the ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, which gives Police more power to suppress public protest, the unnecessary interference in the Kurdish peace process, massive arrest of journalists and the regular tagging of critics as element of the so-called ‘parallel state’, have all contributed to the president’s low approval rating.

Despite the cries from within and outside Turkey on the excesses of the present administration, Erdogan,  who is the first publicly elected president under the parliamentary system in the country, in reality is showing no concern as he seems to believe that  allowing true democracy will amount to losing power, hence the need to drift away and make Turkey an authoritarian state under his leadership.

Under the current parliamentary system, the presidency is a largely symbolic institution, but Erdoan wants it to be the most powerful, hence his authoritarian quest to force an amendment in the constitution to transform the country’s political system into a presidential one.

But the President’s authoritarian posture is travelling too fast in the wrong direction. It has not only whittled down Turkey’s influence in international arena, it is also rubbing negatively  on the country’s economy.

Over 1,863 journalists have reportedly lost their jobs in Turkey due to their anti-government views in the 12 years of AKP rule.

Comments have been made about the dwindling economic growth rate as a result of government’s  dirty politics of fighting opposition instead of concentrating on governance, thereby worsening the woes of the many unemployed in Turkey.

The chairman for economy of  Turkey’s Republican People’s Party, CHP, Selin Sayer Boke, was recently quoted in an interview with private Cihan News Agency as saying “there is a deep gap between the rich and the poor”.

According to her: “The Turkish economy has grown only by 2.9% in 2014, which is a clear sign of impoverishment of the citizens”.

But will one be surprised by the figure? If any, that will surely not be me. A system without checks and balances or clear-cut separation of powers, that is also obsessed with fighting imaginary enemies cannot usher in meaningful economic development.

Little wonder the growing youth unemployment rate which is reportedly hitting around 20 per cent and the loss of value of the Turkish currency, Lira. The threat to business interest of perceived opponents and the strangulation of the media in the country, including regular arrest of journalists, have all contributed to the economic woes under Erdogan’s administration.

The nauseating anti-democratic stench  emanating from the government recently  prompted no fewer than 74 United States, US senators to send a letter to the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, calling for the restoration  of full democratic practices  in Turkey that allow for freedom of expression and a free media.

While the world is still waiting for the US administration to act on the congressmen’s letter to rescue democracy from the jaws of the power drunk administration in Turkey, many youths continue to be denied access to air their views through the media, especially the social media.

Alleged insults on Erdogan in social media have seen a number of individuals arrested and charged to court, while the blocking of social network sites like twitter, facebook, among others, have become a regular decimal in recent years.

In the midst of this draconian behaviour,  Erdogan is still bent   in forcing down presidential system on the throats of the Turkish people, all in his attempt to become the undisputable ‘iron-man’ in Turkey.

Truth be told, the way things are going under the present administration cannot take Turkey to where it is supposed to be. In fact, it is a mere macabre dance on democracy that will do more harm to Turkish interest.

Ms. Malik Muniru, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos.