People (and countries) can change, especially when people who are interested in changing a country gravitate to power. The only guarantee of our freedoms in a modern civil society is our continued vigilance and active participation in it.
When he was doing his first campaign, Erdogan portrayed himself a liberal. Even after he became president he distanced himself from his old fundamentalist islam friends and followed relatively liberal politics.
Oh, also he had portrayed himself as a victim. This is the achilles heel of Turkish people. They love you unconditionally if they think you are victim. (I am Turkish)
AFAIK, general population is no more or no less liberal compared to 10 years ago. Honestly they weren't/aren't quite liberal.
