Erdogan came to power in Turkey in 2004, and he first served as prime minister, then became president with executive powers with the amendment of the country’s political system in 2017.
Erdogan founded the Justice and Development Party in 2001 to be the lever that brought him to power.
Erdogan faces a tough test tomorrow, Sunday, when millions of Turks head to the polls to choose their president.
Alongside Erdogan, who represents the “People’s Alliance”, the strong opposition candidate, the leader of the Republican People’s Party, Kamal Kilicdaroglu, who represents the “Alliance of the Nation”, is participating in the current elections. or the Six-Party Alliance, while Sinan Ogan represents the “Work and Freedom” coalition.
Opinion polls show Kilicdaroglu ahead of Erdogan, but other polls indicate he is capable of winning elections in the first round, adding ambiguity to these elections.
Turkey has changed
With Erdogan in power, major changes have taken place in the country’s foreign policy, including a rapprochement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the West views with suspicion, and the situation could change if the opposition candidate l win.
It has been difficult to ignore Erdogan in recent months and years internationally, as he prevents Sweden from joining NATO, for example, and tries to maintain good relations with Russia and Ukraine while the two countries are engaged in a fierce war, and adopted the signing of the grain agreement, which is very important for many countries in the world.
Turkey’s chances of joining the European Union under Erdogan seem almost non-existent, despite having been a candidate for membership for decades.
The West awaits Kilicdaroglu
UK network ‘Sky News’ says in an analysis that all eyes are on what this year’s most important election around the world will look like.
She said that even with a new leader, it is naïve to think that Turkey’s ambition to join the European Union will be realized soon.
But relations will be better, even if Kemal Kilicdaroglu’s plans to deal with immigration and immigrants are not yet clear.
In any case, the presence of Kilicdaroglu in power would dissipate the anxiety of the West.
This will have several implications:
Sweden will join NATO. US and foreign investors will breathe a sigh of relief and may return to Turkish markets. Countries that frequently swing between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East will become calmer.
Erdogan and the distance with the West
On the other hand, Erdogan’s victory in a new term will have repercussions on Turkey’s international relations, and it does not seem that they will remain the same. The analysis argues that an Erdogan victory will drive Turkey further and further away from the West.
economic changes
And after Erdogan made a huge change in the Turkish economy at the start of his reign, he has witnessed some problems in recent years, such as the inflation rate in the country reaching 40%, which is a challenge. for the 11th largest economy in the world.
Erdogan concluded that the best solution to solve the inflation problem is to cut the interest rate, contrary to what global economic institutions believe.
But economic problems mean nothing to his supporters.
They see, especially in states and rural areas, that Erdogan is the man who restored Turkey’s status and gave it diplomatic clout.
His management of the crisis of the devastating earthquake which struck the country on February 6, earned him reactions from two opposite sides, between those who praised him and those who criticized him.
His supporters say he showed strong leadership in the face of a natural disaster that nearly destroyed others, while his opponents pointed to scores of buildings that collapsed due to building regulations. lax construction, leaving many survivors without help.
Read the Latest World News Today on The Eastern Herald.
