Erdoğan thinks the Turkish presidency – occupied just now by none other than Erdoğan – should have more power, the way Hitler did.

After returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Erdogan was asked by the Turkish news media whether a presidential system was possible given that the government is now organized under a prime minister.

“There are already examples in the world,” Mr. Erdogan said. “You can see it when you look at Hitler’s Germany.”

Hitler, who became chancellor of Germany in 1933, assumed the presidency in 1934, a move that allowed him to consolidate power to become the Führer.

While Mr. Erdogan did not elaborate, his comment is bound to raise concern among critics who view him as increasingly authoritarian.

Ya think?

On Thursday, there was little reaction to Mr. Erdogan’s comments, which were made late in the day. Part of that may be attributed to nervousness about insulting the president, which could bring a jail term, and part to the quiet of the New Year’s holiday.

Well yes, that would tend to mute public criticism, wouldn’t it.