He and his party narrowly survived a closure case launched by Turkey's militantly secular judges in 2008.

ECONOMIST: Turkey's election

The Republican Party is becoming a perversely rigid sect, more concerned with being militantly correct than being pragmatic and successful.

BBC: Viewpoint: Republicans at a crossroads

He was able to draw on his experience in turning around a militantly unionized work force at a Goodrich Uniroyal plant in the U.S. after being put in charge by the owner, Michelin, in 1990.

FORBES: Gambatte!