“For 54 years, they made us wait at the gates of the E.U.,” he said, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. The European Union — its unity threadbare, and itself struggling with members, like Poland and Hungary, dominated by strong leaders increasingly tempted by authoritarian impulses — may be losing its bloom. It was telling that as he celebrated his victory, Mr. Erdogan taunted the bloc with comments about restoring the death penalty in Turkey. “What it may mean is that Erdogan wants to transform the European Union relationship with Turkey into an exclusively economic one.”Advertisement Continue reading the main storyBut such a turn would hold risks for both sides. Ignoring political matters for purely economic dealings could further weaken the bloc, Mr. Ulgen said.

Source: New York Times April 17, 2017 19:20 UTC