What's at stake in Turkey's upcoming elections?

[Contrarian]

The elections in Turkey are scheduled to take place on 18 June 2023. President Erdoğan signaled that the election might be held early on 14 May 2023,

• President Tayyip Erdogan faces the biggest test of his 20-year rule in May elections that will decide not only who leads Turkey but how it is governed, where its economy is headed, and what role it may play to ease conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East. ---> The earthquake operation was a disaster for the Turkish authorities in my view.
• The opposition picked as its presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), and formed an alliance aiming to appeal to voters from the left and right, as well those with Islamist roots.
• The opposition promises to reverse many of the policies of Erdogan, who has championed religious piety, military-backed diplomacy and low-interest rates.
  
  https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/whats-stake-turkeys-upcoming-elections-2023-03-07/
  
  

Edited March 8 by Contrarian
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[Army Guy]

Sweden and Finland are going to be very interested in the election, so they can become full members... and not being held hostage by Turkey

[Contrarian]

⬆️ Turkey votes in pivotal elections that could end Erdogan's 20-year rule.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-votes-pivotal-elections-that-could-end-erdogans-20-year-rule-2023-05-13/

[SpankyMcFarland]

Kılıçdaroğlu did well to stop Erdoğan winning in the first round given his control of the media and other institutions. A fair election has become impossible in Turkey. In addition, populist, tribal leaders attract intense support these days even when they are hopeless incompetents like our frıend in Ankara. 

Edited May 18 by SpankyMcFarland

[Contrarian]

On 5/18/2023 at 7:44 AM, SpankyMcFarland said:

In addition, populist, tribal leaders attract intense support these days even when they are hopeless incompetents like our frıend in Ankara. 

To be honest, I must admit that I posted here a few months ago appreciating Erdogan's pragmatism. However, episode after episode is changing my perspective.

When the US Defence Secretary had to make repeated calls to halt a Turkish invasion of Syria due to the presence of US troops there, it became evident to me that Erdogan views himself as some sort of Sultan.

The reality is that there is only one global sheriff, and that is the United States of America. Erdogan did back down but it shows that this Sultan thinks he can bark at the sheriff.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/01/turkey-syria-invasion-attack-us-kurds/

Another day, another diplomatic crisis for the Biden administration. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin worked the phones with Turkish officials in Ankara, trying to stave off a full-scale incursion by Turkish forces into northern Syria. And separately, James Jeffrey, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, was in Ankara to meet with Hulusi Akar, Turkey’s defense minister, in person.

Edited May 20 by Contrarian
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[SpankyMcFarland]

Given that Erdogan dislikes America and fears Russia, his natural tendencies are anti-Western even when that doesn’t serve his country’s interests well. As if that weren’t enough, his ‘thoughts’ on inflation are the sort of thing you might hear down the pub at closing time:

Quote

“I have a thesis that interest rates and inflation, they are directly correlated. The lower the interest rates, the lower the inflation will be,” Erdogan told CNN. 

“In this country, the inflation rate will come down along with the interest rates, so that we will come to a point where people will be relieved. I say this speaking as an economist. This is not an illusion.”

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/19/economy/erdogan-turkey-election-inflation-promise/index.html

Coverage of government negligence that led to far more deaths in the earthquake has been light, let’s say. It’ll take a while longer to sink in:

Quote

Angry debate about Turkey’s poor housing standards has erupted since last week’s earthquakes. Amid the outrage, critics point to the town of Erzin as an example of how properly implemented building laws can prevent deaths. 

Erzin lies in northern Hatay, which has suffered the greatest loss of life in the now 11 affected provinces, some 110 kilometers (68 miles) from the epicenter of the 7.8 magnitude quake that struck in the early hours of Feb. 6. 

Yet not a single building collapsed in the district of 42,000 people and there have been zero fatalities. 

Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/02/how-building-code-spared-one-turkish-town-earthquake#ixzz82HCUjnRe

He is bad for Turkey. 

 

Edited May 20 by SpankyMcFarland

[Contrarian]

On 5/20/2023 at 2:08 PM, SpankyMcFarland said:

Given that Erdogan dislikes America and fears Russia, his natural tendencies are anti-Western even when that doesn’t serve his country’s interests well. As if that weren’t enough, his ‘thoughts’ on inflation are the sort of thing you might hear down the pub at closing time:

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/19/economy/erdogan-turkey-election-inflation-promise/index.html

Coverage of government negligence that led to far more deaths in the earthquake has been light, let’s say. It’ll take a while longer to sink in:

He is bad for Turkey. 

 

⬆️ Trending via Agence France Presse:

A crowd of supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrates outside the Presidential Palace in Ankara after the incumbent declared victory in a historic runoff election. The vote, cast as being the most important in generations, saw Turkey's longest-serving leader pitted against a powerful opposition alliance. Near-complete results showed him leading secular rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, by four percentage points. 

Other link: 
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/28/1178660299/erdogan-has-claimed-victory-in-turkeys-presidential-runoff-election