The positive remarks from both leaders during the joint press conference marked a shift towards a more cooperative and constructive relationship after years of tension between the neighbours.

Erdogan’s vision to turn the Aegean into a “sea of peace and cooperation” and Mitsotakis’ call for a “future of peace, progress, and cooperation” set an optimistic tone, opening the door to potential bilateral resolutions and regional stability in the East Mediterranean Sea.

Erdogan’s constructive statesmanship and statements before his visit to Athens formed a basis for this new situation.

A diplomatic breakthrough

The Eastern Mediterranean energy conflict lies at the heart of the tensions between Ankara and Athens – a complex issue rooted in disputes over maritime boundaries and energy resources.

The recent meeting between Erdogan and Mitsotakis hints at a commitment to finding mutually beneficial solutions.

Resolving this dispute is not only about easing immediate tensions but also holds broader implications for the stability and prosperity of the entire region.

In that regard, Türkiye may play a pivotal role in providing a win-win resolution to the EastMed energy dilemma for all parties.

Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Türkiye serves as an intercontinental bridge and pan-regional energy hub for transporting Eastern Mediterranean gas to European markets.

For instance, international projects like TurkStream and TANAP, designed for efficient transportation of natural gas through Anatolia, put Türkiye as the most cost-effective and prudent destination and partner for fostering mutually beneficial collaborations in transportation ventures to the Western side of the world.

When it comes to facilities, Ankara’s well-established capacity in exploring, drilling and extracting gas can contribute to a potential joint campaign led by Greece and Türkiye, with the involvement of other regional actors, instead of paying for non-regional actors.

Furthermore, Türkiye’s discovery of natural gas reserves with a market value of $1 trillion in the Black Sea has marked the beginning of a new era for the country in self-sufficiency in meeting its natural gas requirements.

Such potential campaigns not only benefit Ankara but also create a mutually advantageous scenario for the entire region, fostering economic growth and stability with regional ‘cooperation’ as the only way out of the energy dilemma.

Regional cooperation platform

A strengthened partnership between Türkiye and Greece transcends economic benefits.

The Eastern Mediterranean region has witnessed increased militarisation in the past few years. And a cooperative approach will not only reduce the likelihood of armed confrontations but also provide a framework for crafting a blueprint to address the energy dilemma under Greece and Türkiye’s leadership, fostering a more stable and prosperous region.

Therefore, it is imperative to establish a cooperation platform for projecting an inclusive roadmap, encouraging all stakeholders to adopt a comprehensive maritime concord, and ensuring fairness and compliance with international law, such as the regional accord between Türkiye and Libya signed in 2019.

Moreover, the positive momentum generated by this diplomatic thaw may open the door to increased cultural and people-to-people exchanges under the realities of shared history, cultural ties, and geographical proximity between the people of Greece and Türkiye.

Global implications

In the broader context of international relations, the growing diplomatic ties between Türkiye and Greece send a positive message about the efficacy of diplomatic solutions to longstanding conflicts.

In an era dominated by geopolitical tensions, the success of dialogue and negotiation over confrontation sets a precedent for resolving disputes through political means. The renewed friendship between Greece and Türkiye stands as an example for other nations facing longstanding conflicts, emphasising the power of diplomacy in overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges.

The reconciliation, along with numerous agreements, also underscores the international optimism surrounding the leaders’ commitment to resolving longstanding issues and promoting cooperation.

While this diplomatic breakthrough is a cause for optimism, it is essential to recognise the challenges ahead.

Building trust and sustaining positive momentum requires continued efforts from both sides. The implementation of confidence-building measures, ongoing dialogue, and a commitment to compromise will be crucial as the world watches with hope that this positive momentum will not only endure but also inspire other nations to seek diplomatic solutions to their own longstanding issues.

Consequently, the recent meeting can be a decisive moment to end the turbulent situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. The potential benefits of improved relations extend beyond the bilateral scope, influencing the economic, security, and cultural landscape of the entire region.

As both nations embark on a journey towards friendship, the imperative now lies in leveraging international mediation to establish a joint task platform for resource management.

This platform, committed to transparently handling the exploration and distribution of energy resources, has the potential to capitalise on Türkiye’s expertise and facilities in exploration, drilling, and transportation.

For championing a win-win vision, this reconciliation should pursue a lasting resolution that can uplift the entire region. It not only boosts stability but also sets a significant precedent for productive cooperation in the complex Eastern Mediterranean geopolitics.

Source: TRT World

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ATHENS

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Wednesday that his country has achieved a significant normalization in its relations with Türkiye.

In an interview with public broadcaster ERT, Mitsotakis noted that the normalization is reflected in concrete developments such as a visa facilitation scheme announced during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Athens in December, fighting irregular migration and negotiations to improve bilateral economic and commercial ties.

Recalling that he and Erdogan met three times last year, Mitsotakis noted that he is much more optimistic over prospects for Greek-Turkish relations.

He noted that there are numerous disputes between the two countries which Athens intends to approach in a good mood to resolve.

He added, however, that Greece and Türkiye should be able to learn to co-exist in a region tested by various challenges even if their differences remain unsolved.

Asserting that relations with the US have been elevated to a very high level, as affirmed by US Secretary State Antony Blinken, whom he met last Saturday, Mitsotakis said this brings economic, military and diplomatic benefits to the country.

More specifically on the country’s long-awaited request for F-35 fighter jets from Washington, he said: “The Greek government has submitted a substantiated request to acquire F-35 jet fighters, and I believe this request is mature and will be approved by the American authorities…relatively soon, in my opinion.”

Also speaking on the much-contested issue of same-sax marriage, Mitsotakis reiterated that the government remains committed to legalizing it.

Nonetheless, he noted that the government’s bill would not include approval for the use of a surrogate mother by same-sex couples. ​​​​​​​

Source: AA

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a video message to the 9th Turkish Medical World Congress and Aziz Sancar Science, Service and Incentive Awards Ceremony held in Istanbul on Friday, emphasizing the role of artificial intelligence in our everyday lives.

Welcoming the national and international participants, Erdoğan said: “We attach great importance and value to each of our work within the Organization of Turkic States. As the Turkish world, we are constantly improving our cooperation in a wide range of areas ranging from health to defense, from education to energy.

“Our brothers in the Turkish republics remained with my nation after the Feb. 6 earthquakes. We have never forgotten the solidarity they showed afterward, and we will never forget it. I believe that we will achieve great success as long as we keep the spirit of brotherhood between us intact,” said Erdoğan.

Emphasizing that the Turkish Medical World Congress, which was held for the ninth time, played a very important role in fully activating the cooperation potential in the field of health, Erdoğan said: “It is an ever-growing market that will reach $1.5 trillion in 2030. It is clear that artificial intelligence technologies affect every aspect of our lives. It is certain that the presentations and discussions to be held under the theme of artificial intelligence in health will broaden the horizons of all of us. I would like to express my gratitude in advance to each of you for the efforts you have made and will make in this direction.”

Stating that they reward scientists who carry out successful studies in the field of health every year simultaneously with the congress, Erdoğan said, “I wholeheartedly congratulate the winners of the award, which was dedicated to the name of our Nobel Prize-winning scientist Professor Aziz Sancar and I extend my greetings and affection to all the participating countries.”

Source: Daily Sabah

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For one thing there is the continuous low-level conflict with Greece, a firmly-established member of NATO – along with Turkey – since 1952. Not the happiest of neighbors, there has been armed conflict between the Greeks and Turks in the 18^th Century, again in 1919~1922 and finally the matter of Cyprus and control over other contiguous islands of the Mediterranean. Turkey invaded Cyprus on 20 July 1974, after a Greek military coup.

While Türkiye, a new nation-state emerging from the crumbling Ottoman Empire, has long stood against its gigantic neighbor across the Black Sea, and even invited the USA to station its liquid-fueled nuclear-capable guided missiles on its territory (inevitably leading up to the Russians, in a tit-for-tat response, stationing their nuclear R-12 IRBMs in Cuba in 1962, in a showdown that nearly precipitated a nuclear Armageddon with the USA).

Wide areas of disagreement have festered in recent times, with Türkiye complaining about having to shelter over a million persons displaced by armed conflicts in the Arab states – the American adventure in Iraq being the most notorious, followed by the vainglorious attempt to smash the Al-Assad regime in Syria. American forces often allied with the Kurds, a sorely-persecuted minority in Türkiye, further exacerbating relations with Washington.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has unfortunately not fulfilled his assigned role as an obedient servant of the west, rather preferring to see which way the wind is blowing and reset the attention of his country in that direction. He cozied up to old adversary Russia – now that the USSR represents no threat – and agreed to install its S-400 missile defense system when Washington played coy about selling theirs.

Note that the S-400 is specifically designed to knock down NATO aircraft. This purchase was none of their business, and should not have outraged NATO but it did anyway. Relations with the People’s Republic of China, at a low point when a 5,000-man-strong Turkish army fought the PLA in North Korea in 1950, improved dramatically in recent years, culminating in a state visit by President Erdogan to Beijing in 2009. This cannot have made NATO allies feel very confident, either.

Now a hot election campaign in Türkiye, one in which the reasonably-popular Erdogan did not win outright in the first round. CNN, a notorious Deep State propaganda mouthpiece, mounted a ceaseless campaign against him, along with other western media, but to Washington’s consternation he won the runoff anyway.

What is the current tone of relations between this rambunctious NATO member and the West? Listen to Türkiye’s tubby Minister of the Interior Suleyman Soylu, ranting to cheering crowds in Istanbul, on 27 May: “Call us cowards if we don’t wipe out whoever is troubling this country, including the American troops, in the next five years.”

Oops.

“Does President Tayyip Erdogan deliver what I have been saying?” More cheers, as he swings his fat fist menacingly.

And more: “This is the first time we have had such an opportunity. This is the first time we caught the West [in such a weak position]. This is the fist time we caught America. We caught them with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a leader who could only emerge in this country for the first time in a century.”

More Oops from fellow NATO members.

“We are now in our most powerful time for 300 years, by the will and grace of Allah. Tomorrow will be the turning point of saving the world from their [Western powers’] oppression, and their evil deeds.”

(Meanwhile a smiling “President Biden” turns to shake hands with Someone Who Isn’t There.)

Does this sound like the way a NATO member should talk about its allies?

Best Comment on Twitter, from a “Chen Weihua”: “It’s clear that Western interest has bet against Erdogan tis time and it amounted to election interference if you watched CNN in the last few weeks.”

Meanwhile, NATO is standing there completely dumbfounded, looking like (as we used to say in the military) “…they don’t know whether to shave, shine, shit or salute”.

In response to this tirade, EU Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, in 2007 an enthusiastic proponent of EU membership for Turkey, responded innocently, also on Twitter, “Campaign pitch by the Türkiye’s Minister of the Interior. Fairly horrible. Is this the Türkiye we will now face? I sincerely hope not.”

He sounds like he was born yesterday.

“Hark! The wind is blowing from the east!

Look over yonder! There’s a line of five Russian oil tankers heading our way. Jackpot!”

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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Presidency’s Communications Directorate said in a statement that two leaders discussed the Palestine-Israel conflict as well as the arising humanitarian crisis.

Erdoğan highlighted the “deepening” violence targeting Palestinian territories, and the “civilian deaths increasing by the minute.” The Directorate’s statement said that Erdoğan also pointed out that the “silence” of the West brought the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to a level that is not “preventable.” He also stressed that Türkiye would exert every effort to restore calm in the region.

On Monday, Putin called for “unhindered access” for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza in a telephone call with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Kremlin said.

Türkiye is among the staunch defenders of Palestinian rights and repeatedly calls for a two-state solution to the ongoing conflict. Under the leadership of Erdoğan, the country pioneered efforts for a peaceful solution to the conflict while denouncing Israel’s brutal airstrikes and blockade of Gaza that deprived thousands of food and other necessities. At the same time, Ankara continues sending humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian city. Protests have erupted across Türkiye against Israel’s attacks in Gaza, especially after an attack at a hospital that killed hundreds of civilians. Erdoğan is expected to attend a rally for solidarity with Palestinians organized by his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Saturday.

Source: Daily Sabah

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again reversed course, approving Sweden’s bid to join the legacy European military bloc, having been promised a brace of classic F-16 fighter jets.

This new deal was hammered out at the recent NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and included a vow by Türkiye to avoid quarrels with ancient enemy Greece also a NATO member.

During a 12 July press conference on in Vilnius, Erdogan touched on several issues important for Türkiye, including ratifying Sweden’s NATO bid, its F-16 jet deal with the US, and a “balancing act” between combatants Russia and Ukraine. Erdogan agreed to forward ratification of Sweden’s NATO bid to Parliament when it reopens in October, on the condition Stockholm provides a “road map” before ratification.

Ankara’s approval coincided with Sweden pledging support to update Turkey’s customs agreement with the European Union and its desire to approve visa-free travel throughout the EU for its citizens, a tricky matter in the current political climate, where third-world immigration is a hot potato.

Erdogan also hopes (against hope) that Stockholm will clamp down on members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a grouping banned as “terrorists” in Türkiye (others call them “freedom fighters”).

Sweden may have reluctantly agreed, while in fact they are not known for clamping down on anything – average Swedes walk the streets of many cities today scared half to death of violent crime and Islamic “no-go zones”. Few migrants convicted of violent crimes in tolerant Sweden ever get deported, either, instead enjoying the “country club atmosphere” of Scandinavian prisons.

Before departing for the NATO summit, Erdogan also said that he would arrange to fulfill requirements for Türkiye to join the European Union; after decades of reluctance, traditionally neutral Sweden is about to join, following Finland’s entry earlier this year.

Turkey has been eager to benefit from EU membership in one form or another since 1987, but current members are reluctant to let the large nation in.

Hours after Ankara said it would allow Stockholm into the bloc, the US announced it would proceed with the transfer of elderly F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, the likely trade-off for Ankara’s green light. However, US President Biden cannot go ahead with the deal for the planes without approval from the top Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees. Some US lawmakers have concern on how Turkey might deploy any US-provided fighters, considering its objectives in warring Arab countries often diverge from those of the USA.

Note that a dozen second-hand 47-year-old designed F-16 “Fighting Falcons” were sold off by Netherlands and Norway by each country as they were retired in 2022, in the “F-16 End Life of Type (ELOT)” program. These fighter aircraft will be going to the Ukraine, to support their campaign against Russian. The Dutch will meanwhile be acquiring either the troubled F35 fighter jets or possibly the more conventional F22 for their air force.

Greece, alarmed at such developments, has sought guarantees that the Turkish F-16s will not be used against Athens, as the two nations are engaged in an oh-so-familiar maritime waters dispute over the Aegean Sea.

While Greece has accused Turkey of violating its airspace more than 10,000 times last year, Turkey has threatened areas in Syria held by Kurds, a minority which the U.S. considers useful allies.

Taking advantage of the cooperative climate at the NATO Summit, Turkey resumed talks with Greece, after more than a year of tensions between the historic foes, at odds for decades over maritime boundaries, overlapping claims to their continental shelves and the endless and impossible Cyprus dispute. Nevertheless, Greece provided emergency assistance to Türkiye following the recent catastrophic earthquake, calming tensions somewhat.

Following the Vilnius meeting, the neighboring NATO members pledged to “activate multiple channels of communication” to settle issues; a joint statement announced a high-level Cooperation Council scheduled for Thessaloniki this fall.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has parlayed his country’s NATO membership and location straddling Europe and the Middle East into international influence, is favored to win reelection in a presidential runoff Sunday, despite a host of domestic issues.

Erdogan, 69, who has amassed greater powers during his 20 years in office, finished a first-round election on May 14 just short of a victory and also retained a majority in parliament. That came despite rampant inflation and the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake that killed over 50,000 people in the country’s south.

His challenger in the runoff is Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the 74-year-old leader of the main opposition social democratic Republican People’s Party and the joint candidate of a six-party alliance, who has promised to undo years of democratic backsliding under Erdogan, to repatriate Syrian refugees and promote rights of women.

Here’s a look at the main domestic issues shaping the election, and where Erdogan and his challenger stand:

ERDOGAN’S ECONOMICS

Contrary to the mainstream economic theory of interest rate increases helping to keep consumer prices in check, Erdogan maintains that high borrowing rates cause inflation. The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, under pressure from the president, repeatedly slashed interest rates to boost growth and exports.

Instead, the value of the Turkish lira nosedived, and the rate cuts exacerbated a cost-of-living crisis. Inflation peaked at 85% in October. The official April figure was 44%, although independent groups say they think the actual rate is much higher.

To offset the impacts of inflation and win back votes, Erdogan has engaged in a public spending spree ahead of the elections, increasing the minimum wage and pension payments.

The opposition alliance has promised to restore the central bank’s independence and a return to orthodox economic policies, if Kilicdaroglu becomes president.

Erdogan reportedly has asked Mehmet Simsek, his internationally respected former finance minister, to return to the position, a sign that a new government may embrace more orthodox policies, if the Turkish leader wins a third presidential term.

On Thursday, Erdogan described Turkey’s economy, banking system and financial system as “sound.” He also said, however, that Gulf states, which he did not name, had “deposited money” in Turkey, providing temporary “relief.”

RECOVERING FROM DISASTER

Turkey is grappling with a difficult recovery from February’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake, the deadliest quake in the country’s modern history. It destroyed or damaged more than 300,000 buildings. Hundreds of thousands of residents are sheltering in temporary accommodation like tents. Some 658,000 people were left jobless, according to the International Labor Organization.

The World Bank estimates that the earthquake caused $34.2 billion in “direct damages” — an amount equivalent to 4% of Turkey’s 2021 gross domestic product. The recovery and reconstruction costs could add up to twice that much, the international financial institution said.

Erdogan’s government, meanwhile, has been accused of setting the stage for the devastation with lax building code enforcement. Some people left homeless or struggling to earn money also found the government’s earthquake response to be slow.

Despite the criticism, in the parliamentary election Erdogan’s alliance won 10 out 11 provinces in areas affected by the quake, signaling that the president’s focus on rebuilding during the campaigning has paid off. Erdogan has pledged to construct 319,000 homes within the year and has attended a number of groundbreaking ceremonies, trying to persuade voters that only he can rebuild lives and businesses.

Kilicdaroglu says his government would give houses to quake victims for free instead of the 20-year repayment plan envisaged by Erdogan’s government.

REFUGEES NO LONGER SO WELCOME

Refugees, especially those fleeing civil war in neighboring Syria, were once greeted with open arms in Turkey, but anti-migration sentiment is on the rise amid the economic downturn. A shortage of housing and shelters in the quake-hit provinces has increased calls for Syrian refugees to go home.

The soft-mannered Kilicdaroglu had vowed to repatriate Syrians within two years, saying he would seek European Union funds to build homes, schools, hospitals and roads in Syria and encourage Turkish entrepreneurs to open factories and other businesses there. In a bid to woo nationalist voters in the lead up to the runoff race, Kilicdaroglu hardened his tone, saying he would send refugees packing within a year of being elected. He has since also won the backing of an anti-migrant party.

Under mounting public pressure, Erdogan’s government has begun constructing thousands of brick homes in Turkish-controlled areas of northern Syria to encourage voluntary returns. On Thursday, Erdogan announced in a television interview that Qatar was funding a separate housing project that would help resettle up to a million Syrians.

His government is also seeking reconciliation with Syrian President Bashir Assad to ensure their safe return.

Erdogan said Thursday there are some 4 million refugees in Turkey, including around 3.4 million Syrians, but anti-migrant parties say the figure is closer to 13 million.

A MORE DEMOCRATIC TURKEY?

The coalition of six parties has declared a commitment to restore Turkey as a parliamentary democracy and to give citizens greater rights and freedoms should their alliance win the elections.

Erdogan succeeded in getting a presidential system of governance narrowly approved by referendum in 2017 and introduced in 2018. The new system abolished the office of the prime minister and concentrated a vast amount of powers in the hands of the president.

The alliance has outlined plans for a greater separation of powers, including an increased role for parliament and an independent judiciary.

Kilicdaroglu has also promised to do away with a law that makes insulting the president a criminal offense punishable by prison. He has pledged to abide by decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, which have called for the release of former pro-Kurdish party co-chair Selahattin Demirtas and philanthropist businessman and human rights activist Osman Kavala from prison.

But lacking a parliamentary majority, Kilicdaroglu would face an uphill battle implementing the democratic reforms even if he is elected.

WILL THE ELECTION AFFECT WOMEN’S AND LGBTQ+ RIGHTS?

Seeking to widen his support from voters, Erdogan has expanded his own political alliance with two nationalist parties to include a small Islamist party and also secured the backing of a radical Kurdish-Islamist party.

The parties newly recruited into Erdogan’s camp have Islamic agendas, which have raised fears about the future of women’s rights in Turkey. They want to scrap laws on alimony and domestic violence protection, arguing they encourage women to leave their husbands and threaten traditional family values.

Erdogan already has removed Turkey from a European convention that aims to prevent domestic violence – a nod to religious groups that claimed the treaty encourages divorce and LGBTQ+ rights. Pandering to his pious and conservative supporters, Erdogan and other members of his ruling party have called LGBTQ+ individuals “deviants.”

The Kilicdaroglu-led alliance has vowed to rejoin the European treaty and to uphold the rights of women and minority communities. Kilicdaroglu has also reached out to conservative women, assuring them they will be able to continue wearing Islamic-style headscarves that were once banned in schools and government offices under Turkey’s secular laws.

WHAT ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY?

Under Erdogan, Turkey has, at times, become a difficult NATO ally, often pursuing its own agenda. It has cultivated close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and blocked the alliance’s expansion. However, it has also emerged as a key mediator between Russia and Ukraine, helping broker a crucial deal that allowed Ukrainian grain shipments and alleviate a food crisis.

The opposition alliance has signaled it would pursue a more Western-oriented foreign policy and seek to rebuild ties with the United States, the European Union and NATO allies.

The Kilicdaroglu-led opposition says it would work for Turkey’s reinstatement to the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program, from which the country was ousted following the Erdogan government’s purchase of a Russian-made air defense system.

At the same time, a Kilicdaroglu-led government is expected to try to balance Turkey’s economic ties with Russia.

An opposition win also could result in Turkey ending its veto of Sweden’s request to join NATO. Erdogan’s government has blocked Sweden’s accession into the alliance, pressing the country to crackdown on Kurdish militants and other groups that Turkey regards as terrorist threats.

Source: Spectrum Local News

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Voters in Turkey returned to the polls Sunday to decide whether the country’s longtime leader stretches his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade or is unseated by a challenger who has promised to restore a more democratic society.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been at Turkey’s helm for 20 years, is favored to win a new five-year term in the second-round runoff after coming just short of an outright victory in the first round on May 14.

The divisive populist who turned his country into a geopolitical player finished four percentage points ahead of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the candidate of a six-party alliance and leader of Turkey’s center-left main opposition party. Erdogan’s performance came despite crippling inflation and the effects of a devastating earthquake three months ago.

Kilicdaroglu (pronounced KEH-lich-DAHR-OH-loo), a 74-year-old former bureaucrat, has described the runoff as a referendum on the country’s future.

More than 64 million people are eligible to cast ballots. The polls opened at 8 a.m.

Turkey does not have exit polls, but the preliminary results are expected to come within hours of the polls closing at 5 p.m.

The final decision could have implications far beyond Ankara because Turkey stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and it plays a key role in NATO.

Turkey vetoed Sweden’s bid to join the alliance and purchased Russian missile-defense systems, which prompted the United States to oust Turkey from a U.S.-led fighter-jet project. But Erdogan’s government also helped broker a crucial deal that allowed Ukrainian grain shipments and averted a global food crisis.

The May 14 election saw 87% turnout, and strong participation is expected again Sunday, reflecting voters’ devotion to elections in a country where freedom of expression and assembly have been suppressed.

If he wins, Erdogan, 69, could remain in power until 2028. After three stints as prime minister and two as president, the devout Muslim who heads the conservative and religious Justice and Development Party, or AKP, is already Turkey’s longest-serving leader.

The first half of Erdogan’s tenure included reforms that allowed the country to begin talks to join the European Union and economic growth that lifted many out of poverty. But he later moved to suppress freedoms and the media and concentrated more power in his hands, especially after a failed coup attempt that Turkey says was orchestrated by the U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen. The cleric denies involvement.

Erdogan transformed the presidency from a largely ceremonial role to a powerful office through a narrowly won 2017 referendum that scrapped Turkey’s parliamentary system of governance. He was the first directly elected president in 2014 and won the 2018 election that ushered in the executive presidency.

The May 14 election was the first that Erdogan did not win outright.

Critics blame Erdogan’s unconventional economic policies for skyrocketing inflation that has fueled a cost-of-living crisis. Many also faulted his government for the slow response to the earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey.

Still, Erdogan has retained the backing of conservative voters who remain devoted to him for lifting Islam’s profile in the country that was founded on secular principles and for raising the country’s influence in world politics.

In a bid to woo voters hit hard by inflation, he has increased wages and pensions and subsidized electricity and gas bills, while showcasing Turkey’s homegrown defense industry and infrastructure projects. He also centered his reelection campaign on a promise to rebuild quake-stricken areas, including constructing 319,000 homes within the year. Many see him as a source of stability.

Kilicdaroglu is a soft-mannered former civil servant who has led the pro-secular Republican People’s Party, or CHP, since 2010. He campaigned on a promise to reverse Erdogan’s democratic backsliding, restore the economy by reverting to more conventional policies and to improve ties with the West.

In a frantic do-or-die effort to reach out to nationalist voters in the runoff, Kilicdaroglu vowed to send back refugees and ruled out any peace negotiations with Kurdish militants if he is elected.

Many in Turkey regard Syrian refugees who have been under Turkey’s temporary protection after fleeing the war in neighboring Syria as a burden on the country, and their repatriation became a key issue in the election.

Earlier in the week, Erdogan received the endorsement of third-place candidate, nationalist politician Sinan Ogan, who garnered 5.2% of the votes and is no longer in the race. Meanwhile, a staunchly anti-migrant party that had supported Ogan’s candidacy, announced it would back Kilicdaroglu.

A defeat for Kilicdaroglu would add to a long list of electoral losses to Erdogan and put pressure for him to step down as party chairman.

Erdogan’s AKP party and its allies retained a majority of seats in parliament following a legislative election that was also held on May 14. Parliamentary elections will not be repeated Sunday.

Erdogan’s party also dominated in the earthquake-hit region, winning 10 out of 11 provinces in an area that has traditionally supported the president. Erdogan came in ahead in the presidential race in eight of those provinces.

As in previous elections, Erdogan used state resources and his control of the media to reach voters.

Following the May 14 vote, international observers also pointed to the criminalization of dissemination of false information and online censorship as evidence that Erdogan had an “unjustified advantage.” The observers also said the elections showed the resilience of Turkish democracy.

Erdogan and pro-government media portrayed Kilicdaroglu, who had received the backing of the country’s pro-Kurdish party, as colluding with “terrorists” and of supporting what they described as “deviant” LGBTQ rights.

Kilicdaroglu “receives his orders from Qandil,” Erdogan repeatedly said at recent campaign rallies, a reference to the mountains in Iraq where the leadership of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, is based.

“We receive our orders from God and the people,” he said.

The election was being held as the country marked the 100th anniversary of its establishment as a republic, following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Source: NPR

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Why does the Kurdish party not explicitly call for a vote for the opposition? Because he wants to keep his autonomy, because some members of the opposition alliance are wary of the Kurds; and above all because it could be counterproductive: Recep Tayyip Erdogan would use it to denounce the Kurdish hold on the opposition.  

Polls clearly favorable to the opposition candidate

Seven weeks before the election, the opposition therefore has the wind in its sails: even before this decision, the opposition candidate already had, according to all the polls of recent days, a margin of advance of 10 points over the president. Erdoğan. 55/45 on average. If Kemal Kiliçdaroglu does not make a political error by then, and if the alliance of the Six manages to maintain its unity, the opposition can therefore hope to win on May 14, in the presidential and legislative elections. And end 20 years of increasingly centralized power. Worries are definitely piling up for Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The economic situation remains poor, with inflation exceeding 60%.

For the middle classes, this is a major issue. And this situation is largely due to the president’s controversial choices in monetary matters. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also still facing the consequences of the huge earthquake of February 6, which killed 50,000 people in the country. Many Turks still reproach him for the slowness of the relief work, and impute to him the responsibility for the state of the buildings which in certain places have collapsed like houses of cards. Corruption in the construction industry is closely linked to the mode of governance of the AKP, Erdogan’s party.    

Recep Tayyip Erdogan will play his all

But there are seven weeks left and we can count on Recep Tayyip Erdogan to campaign with a vengeance. To play with his charisma. To use mainstream media , mostly controlled, as propaganda tools. And to denounce, despite everything, the influence of the Kurds on the opposition. For Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the HDP party is linked to the PKK, this armed group considered terrorist. Moreover, the historical leader of the HDP, Selahattin Demirtas, has been behind bars for more than six years. However, since this position of the pro-Kurdish party Erdogan seems despite everything in a delicate position.

Source: francetvinfo

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