Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will not run again if he wins next year’s elections. At a performance in the northern Turkish city of Samsun on Saturday, the 68-year-old announced that he would ask for the nation’s support one “last time” in 2023. After that, he will be handed over to younger politicians.
With his conservative Islamic party, the AKP, Erdogan is hoping for success in the parliamentary and presidential elections, which will take place in June at the latest. In view of more than 80 percent inflation, 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. Even a victory for Erdogan in the presidential election that is taking place at the same time is anything but certain.
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.
