The February 6 Kahramanmaraş double-earthquake not only shook Türkiye with terrible loss of life and destruction. It also upset the political balance and increased economic uncertainty ahead of a critical election. Politically, President Tayyip Erdoğan and his twenty-odd year old AK Party government have been the most affected by this trauma. Erdoğan has a difficult
Türkiye’s six party opposition block held their 11th meeting on January 26, falling short of meeting high expectations with their joint declaration. The opposition cooperation that is often called the “Table of Six” has been regularly meeting since last February pledging to instate a “strengthened parliamentary regime” against the current “presidential governmental system,” which was
President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s announcement that he would use his presidential authority on March 10 to renew the election on May 14 quickly fuelled the debate that he would not be able to run again. Despite main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s statement that
Among the contradictions Turkey faces ahead of the crucial 2023 elections is the gap between political activity that is in compliance with the Constitution and “realpolitik,” the German term for “politics in accordance with circumstances, not principles.” This is most evident in the question of whether President and ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) leader
Can President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan run again in the 2023 elections? While the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) members think certainly he can, the chair of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu announced “We will not have a discussion about Erdoğan’s candidacy. If he wishes to run he is more than welcome.”
One of the most prominent questions in Turkish public debates about the upcoming 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey is undoubtedly who will be the presidential candidates. Even though President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has not yet announced his candidacy, his name is almost certain for his People’s Alliance. When it comes to the opposition,
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu spoke harshly about the terror inspection initiated by the Interior Ministry against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, defining the inspection as “conspiracy.” Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group on Jan. 3, Kılıçdaroğlu said that if the government appoints a trustee, the main opposition will consider the situation
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been hinting at rescheduling the 2023 elections before its due date of June 18 for some time. There are some drawbacks to doing so, especially in light of President Recep Tayyip Erdoan’s reelection and the AKP maintaining its parliamentary majority. There have been discussions about moving the
The six Turkish opposition parties that have formed an alliance against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Tayyip Erdoğan for the upcoming elections in a bid to “restore the parliamentary regime” have been regularly meeting for the last six months. The six parties’ leaders held their last meeting on November 14, as
It seems increasingly less likely that the results of the U.S. Midterm elections will help clear the clouds menacing American democracy. Anand Giridharadas, commenting on recent developments in world politics said: “We are living through a revolt against the future”. The former New York Times columnist is right on target. Throughout the world we are