Turkish President: Erdogan hints at final candidacy

Status: 11.12.2022 4:45 p.m

The AKP politician Erdogan has been in power in Turkey for almost 20 years – first as prime minister and since 2014 as president. Now the 68-year-old has promised to run for office for the last time next year.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that if he wins the 2023 election, he will only remain at the head of state for one more term and will not run again after that. During a performance in the northern Turkish city of Samsun, the 68-year-old said he would ask for the nation’s support one “last time” next year. After that, he will be handed over to younger politicians.

Observers often interpreted these statements as an announcement by Erdogan that he wanted to run for the last time in the 2023 election. With his Islamic conservative party AKP, Erdogan is hoping for success in the parliamentary and presidential elections, which will take place in June 2023 at the latest.

In view of an official inflation rate of more than 80 percent, however, the President is under considerable pressure. According to a survey in November, neither a coalition of six opposition parties nor the AKP with its partner, the ultra-nationalist party MHP, currently have an absolute majority. A victory for Erdogan in the presidential election that is taking place at the same time is therefore anything but certain.

Opposition has not yet nominated a candidate

The six opposition parties, including the centre-left CHP, have joined forces with the intention of replacing Erdogan. The alliance has not yet announced a presidential candidate.

Erdogan has been in power for almost 20 years – first as prime minister and since 2014 as president. Five years ago, the parliamentary system was replaced by a presidential system in a referendum – since then the president has had significantly more powers.

source site