the leader of the party, abdullah gul, now stands aside.n is finally turkey's prime minister. recep tayyip erdogan. applause under erdogan, turkey boomed. unemployment and inflation dropped and living standards soared. recep tayyip erdogan was in very good relationship with the business world and so on. so, he presented himself at the person who would open the way for turkey and bring turkey to the place where she deserves. there was large sympathy for him in brussels, in london, in washington. people in the west, they also looked at turkey and saw a great economic success story and they wanted part of that as well. erdogan's party were seen as - the best thing since sliced bread. they were islamists, _ yet moderate and pro—western, and that was really unique. erdogan is hugely popular at home and abroad, but the military are still incredibly influential and if they continue to control the levers of power, then erdogan can neverfeel safe in office. in 2005, the european union agrees to start negotiations on turkey's membership, but to join