Election of a new President
Expert: Turkey election important for the future of democracies
On May 14, the people of Turkey are called upon to elect a new parliament and a new president. photo
© Tolga Ildun/ZUMA/dpa
It is a fateful choice: can the opposition stop Erdogan? An expert sees the election as an opportunity for democracy – not only in Turkey.
According to an expert, the parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey in about five weeks will send a signal for democracies around the world.
Turkey under Erdogan is a “prime example of a competitive authoritarian regime” in which there are elections, “but they are not free and fair,” Gönül Tol, director of the Turkey program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, told the German press -Agency.
It is therefore difficult for the opposition to defeat the opponent in elections. If it succeeds anyway, Tol believes that this will not only be an important step for Turkey, but also give “the world and democracy hope that authoritarian regimes can be overcome”. On the other hand, if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins another term in office, she believes that elections in Turkey will no longer play a role in the future.
The parliamentary and presidential elections will take place in Turkey on May 14th. Turks abroad can vote from April 27th. Erdogan has been in power for 20 years and has ruled under a presidential system with far-reaching powers since 2018.
“Like every election, this one will be transparent”
Turkey regularly denies accusations that the country is slipping into an autocracy. On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also forbade criticism of the election process: “Like every election, this one will also be transparent. Our elections will be democratic,” he said, according to the state news agency Anadolu. “Whatever decision our nation makes, everyone will accept it.”
After the last elections in June 2018, election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) criticized that the candidates did not have the same opportunities, among other things because of restrictions on freedom of assembly and the media. The elections in May will also be observed by an OSCE delegation.