Populist Surge: Former President's Turkey Trip Sparks Regional Buzz and Domestic Fury

The fact that Ahmadinejad, a divisive figure both at home and abroad, was on Turkish soil generated an immediate and palpable reaction from various quarters. Turkish media coverage, a key barometer of the country's political sentiment, was notably welcoming and positive. This reception stood in stark contrast to the often more nuanced or critical attention he might receive in other international settings, suggesting a segment of the Turkish public and media maintains a degree of admiration for the former Iranian leader's assertive, anti-Western, and particularly anti-Israel stance that resonated with populist or Islamist sentiments in the region.