23.2 C
Qādiān
Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Reshaping Perspectives and Catalyzing Diplomatic Evolution

Does Turkey’s cost of living crisis threaten Erdogan’s re-election?

But the cost of living crisis unleashed by Erdogan’s unorthodox economic program over a period of a year and a half has now eroded his popularity, and he has faced the biggest electoral challenge of his 20 years in power. .

Some opinion polls show Erdogan’s approval rating lower than that of his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, before the first round of voting, although the difference has narrowed recently. The parliamentary race remains uncertain, with the opposition expected to win a slim majority.

On Sunday morning, Turks began voting in one of the most important elections in Turkey’s 100-year modern history, which will determine whether Erdogan continues the rule he began two decades ago.

Presidential and parliamentary elections will not only decide who will lead Turkey – a NATO member with a population of 85 million – but also how it is governed, the direction of the economy amidst a cost of raging life and the shape of its foreign policy which takes unexpected turns.

galloping inflation

Millions of Turks have faced runaway inflation for years. Food prices rose 54% year-on-year in April, with inflation dropping to 43.7% after peaking at 85.5% in October, the highest level under Erdogan’s rule.

Annual inflation has remained at double digits for nearly five years since the 2018 general election. It began to rise sharply after the currency crisis in late 2021, which was triggered by a series of interest rate cuts in accordance with Erdogan’s unconventional economic policy. .

The Turkish lira lost 44% of its value in 2021 and 30% in 2022. A total of 76% declined during Erdogan’s second presidential term, which saw several currency crises due to unconventional economic policies and geopolitical developments such as the war in Ukraine and differences. between Ankara and Washington.

Despite this, many pro-AKP voters still believe only Erdogan can fix the economy, or they blame other factors for the current situation.

And some voters are not so confident that the opposition will immediately assuage economic concerns.

These presidential elections are taking place three months after devastating earthquakes hit the southeast of the country, claiming the lives of more than 50,000 people. Many residents of the affected provinces have expressed anger at the government’s slow handling of the disaster in its early stages, but there is little evidence that the disaster affected voter turnout.

Voters also choose members of the new parliament, and the race is likely to be tight between the People’s Alliance, which consists of the conservative Islamist-leaning Justice and Development Party led by Erdogan, the Nationalist Nationalist Movement Party and others, and the National Alliance. led by Kilicdaroglu, which consists of six opposition parties, including his secular People’s Republican Party founded by Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Read the Latest World News Today on The Eastern Herald.

More

Follow The Eastern Herald on Google News. Show your support if you like our work.

Author

Arab Desk
Arab Desk
The Eastern Herald’s Arab Desk validates the stories published under this byline. That includes editorials, news stories, letters to the editor, and multimedia features on easternherald.com.

Editor's Picks

Trending Stories