He failed signally to take advantage of the overtures of the then Turkish leader, Turgut Ozal, in the late 1980s.

ECONOMIST: From the archive

Mr Kotil, an American-trained mechanical engineer, says the turnaround began in the early 1990s under Turgut Ozal, the president at the time.

ECONOMIST: Business in Turkey

Among ordinary Turks, however, Mr Erdogan remains the most popular and charismatic leader since a visionary former prime minister and president, Turgut Ozal.

ECONOMIST: Turkey