Turkish Domestic Politics: Analysis and forecast on all relevant developments and insight about Turkish politics with its repercussions in its neighboring countries
Ankara’s response to Iran’s airstrike against Israel on the night of April 13 was notably delayed and subdued. Journalists waited for hours for statements from the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and even the Ministry of National Defense, but received none. The first official evaluation came from Talha Köse, head of the National Intelligence
The March 31 local elections in Türkiye marked the most severe defeat for the incumbent AKP in its 20-year reign. This voter backlash was a belated response to a decade of policy missteps that severely disrupted economic stability, especially after September 2021. In the run-up to the general elections in May 2023, the government opened
As promised, Türkiye’s main opposition CHP’s Chairman Özgür Özel dialed President Tayyip Erdoğan on the first day of Ramadan Eid Holiday, April 10. The call took place around noon, and Erdoğan responded later in the afternoon, between 4:00 and 4:30 pm. The exchange of holiday greetings lasted about five minutes, during which Özel expressed the
Public pressure has compelled President Tayyip Erdoğan’s cabinet to take action on another front. The Ministry of Trade announced on April 9 that it would impose trade restrictions on Israel covering 54 product categories. The trade embargo, to be enforced by Ministry of Trade Ömer Bolat, will take effect from April 9 and will remain
The disarray following the CHP’s electoral victory is not only evident in previously AK Party-held municipalities but also within the AKP headquarters and local branches, portraying a sobering sight. The last-minute traders or those attempting to shred documents, the significant effort by Mehmet Uçum, one of the President’s Advisors, to hinder the complete dismantling of
Following an election defeat in 31 March local elections, opposition İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener declared that she would not run for the party leadership at the congress scheduled for April 27 with a surprise announcement on April 8. In her announcement titled “to the Great Turkish Nation…” via the “X” account, Akşener stated, “I
The local elections on March 31 produced results far beyond expectations. Immediately after the election, evaluations suggested that the main determinant of CHP’s victory was low AKP turnout. However, a ballot-based analysis points to a different picture. Before delving into its details, it is useful to evaluate three important factors that influenced the election results.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan convened the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Central Executive Committee (MYK) on April 2, two days after March 31 local elections. The main agenda item of the meeting was naturally anticipated to be the ruling party’s electoral defeat. However the information shared afterwards about the meeting has surprised even the most
The aftermath of Turkey’s March 31 local elections was marked by nationwide demonstrations and escalating political tensions, largely centered on the contentious annulment of Abdullah Zeydan’s municipal certificate. Zeydan, candidate of the Kurdish-focused DEM Party, secured a decisive victory with a significant margin of votes with 55 percent in Eastern province of Van. However, the
The unofficial results of the March 31 local elections in Türkiye have ushered in a significant shift in the country’s political landscape. The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has seen a notable increase in its nationwide vote share, enabling it to assume control in cities where it has never held power before. With 61 million voters