Turkey’s Election: A Pivotal Moment in the Country’s History

On Sunday, Turkey will hold presidential and parliamentary elections. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces unprecedented challenges that could end his two-decade rule. This article will explore the current situation in Turkey and provide insights into what may happen during the elections.

Turkey’s Current Situation

The elections take place amid a serious economic crisis and what analysts say is democratic erosion under Erdogan’s government. Also, less than three months ago, a February 6 earthquake killed more than 50,000 people and displaced more than 5.9 million across southern Turkey and northern Syria. These factors are expected to play a significant role in the upcoming elections.

Record Voter Turnout Expected

Analysts predict a record voter turnout this year, and a tight race between Erdogan and the main opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and presidential nominee for the six-party Nation Alliance bloc. More than 1.8 million voters living abroad already cast their votes on April 17, Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah reported Wednesday, citing the country’s deputy foreign minister.

The Impact of Demographics

Turkey’s demographics are also expected to play a role. Most of the provinces struck by the February earthquake were strongholds of Erdogan and his AK Party. But Supreme Election Council (YSK) chief Ahmet Yener said last month that at least 1 million voters in quake-stricken zones are expected not to vote this year amid displacement.

The Contenders

The pool for this year’s presidential election narrowed to three candidates on Thursday when Muharrem Ince pulled out of the race. Apart from Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu, right-wing Ancestral Alliance candidate Sinan Ogan is also running.

How Turkey’s Elections Work

Turkey holds elections every five years. Presidential candidates can be nominated by parties that have passed the 5% voter threshold in the last parliamentary election or those who have gathered at least 100,000 signatures supporting their nomination.

The candidate who receives more than 50% of votes in the first round is elected president. Still, if no candidate gets a majority vote, the election goes to a second round between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes in the first round.

Parliamentary elections take place at the same time as the presidential elections. Turkey follows a system of proportional representation in parliament where the number of seats a party gets in the 600-seat legislature is directly proportional to the votes it wins.

Parties must obtain no less than 7% of votes – either on their own or in alliance with other parties – to enter parliament. The vote will take place on Sunday, with candidates casting their ballots for both elections at the same time. The second presidential ballot, if it takes place, will be held on May 28.

Polls open at 8:00 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET) and close at 5 p.m. (10 a.m. ET). Results are expected after 9 p.m. (2 p.m. ET) local time.

Erdogan’s Future

Even if Kilicdaroglu wins the election, some analysts say Erdogan may not hand over power to his successor without a struggle. Erdogan has a history of consolidating power and limiting the opposition’s reach, and his rule has seen increasing democratic erosion in Turkey. The elections could, therefore, become a pivotal moment in Turkey’s modern history.

Conclusion

Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday are significant events in the country’s history. The elections take place amid a serious economic crisis and what analysts say is democratic erosion under Erdogan’s government. With a record voter turnout predicted,

Turkey’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: A Pivotal Moment in Turkey’s Modern History

On Sunday, Turkey will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections, which are expected to have significant implications for the future of the country. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power for over two decades, is facing unprecedented challenges that could potentially end his rule. The elections come in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria earlier this year, causing significant damage and displacement. Additionally, Turkey is grappling with a severe economic crisis and what analysts describe as democratic erosion under Erdogan’s government.

The elections are predicted to have a record voter turnout, with a tight race expected between Erdogan and the main opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and presidential nominee for the six-party Nation Alliance bloc. The demographics of Turkey are also expected to play a role, as most of the provinces struck by the February earthquake were strongholds of Erdogan and his AK Party. However, at least 1 million voters in quake-stricken zones are expected not to vote this year due to displacement, according to Supreme Election Council (YSK) chief Ahmet Yener.

In this article, we will explore the upcoming elections in Turkey, including how they work, who the contenders are, and what implications they might have for Turkey’s future.

How Turkey’s Elections Work

Turkey holds elections every five years, with presidential candidates nominated by parties that have passed the 5% voter threshold in the last parliamentary election or those who have gathered at least 100,000 signatures supporting their nomination. The candidate who receives more than 50% of votes in the first round is elected president. Still, if no candidate gets a majority vote, the election goes to a second round between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes in the first round.

Parliamentary elections take place at the same time as the presidential elections, and Turkey follows a system of proportional representation in parliament, where the number of seats a party gets in the 600-seat legislature is directly proportional to the votes it wins. Parties must obtain no less than 7% of votes – either on their own or in alliance with other parties – in order to enter parliament.

The Contenders

The pool of candidates for this year’s presidential election narrowed down to three when Muharrem Ince withdrew from the race. Apart from Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu, right-wing Ancestral Alliance candidate Sinan Ogan is also running.

Muharrem Ince is the former presidential candidate for the CHP and a current leader of the Homeland Party. Ince withdrew from the race following a slander campaign against him, and his party will remain in the parliamentary race. Sinan Ogan is a nationalist politician and the leader of the right-wing Ancestral Alliance party, which was founded in 2018.

Erdogan, the current president of Turkey, has been in power since 2003, first as prime minister and later as president. He founded the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which has won every election since its formation in 2001. Erdogan has been a controversial figure in Turkey, with supporters hailing him as a strong leader who has modernized Turkey’s economy and infrastructure. Critics accuse him of authoritarianism and weakening democracy, particularly since a failed coup attempt in 2016.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the CHP, is a veteran politician who has been a member of parliament since 2002. Kilicdaroglu has been an outspoken critic of Erdogan and has accused him of eroding democratic institutions in Turkey. Kilicdaroglu has promised to strengthen democracy, the rule of law, and human