Web Desk
President Erdogan’s recent visit to Istanbul’s Adnan Menderes mausoleum evokes the memory of the man he admires, who he referenced when calling for early polls. Menderes, who was executed following a military coup in 1960, represented a secular course correction in Turkey’s history. In contrast, Erdogan survived a coup attempt against his government in 2016.
Erdogan, aged 69, has expressed his desire to continue Menderes’s fight for religious rights and nationalist causes in the officially secular but predominantly Muslim country of 85 million people. The president’s symbolic visit to Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia mosque, which was converted into a mosque in 2020, further bolstered his support among rural and less affluent voters who have played a significant role in his prolonged stay in power since 2003.
Despite Erdogan’s victory over secular opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu by a margin of nearly five percentage points, his failure to secure the 50% threshold necessitated Turkey’s first-ever election runoff. This outcome highlighted the gradual decline in support for the country’s longest-serving leader.
Kilicdaroglu, determined to regain power for the secular party that dominated Turkish politics in the 20th century, has focused his campaign on immediate concerns. In a late-night TV interview, he accused Erdogan’s government of unfairly obstructing his mass text messages to voters, claiming they were afraid of the opposition’s resurgence.
Opposition supporters, particularly liberal secularists in major cities like Istanbul and Izmir, have long voiced concerns over the fairness of Turkey’s elections. While the polls were deemed to be free, observers noted limitations and obstacles that prevented full political pluralism. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) highlighted the criminalization of certain political groups and the detention of opposition politicians as factors undermining political rights and fairness.
Erdogan’s consolidation of power included near-complete control of the media, with government and business allies dominating the landscape. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) estimated that Erdogan received significantly more airtime on state broadcaster TRT Haber than Kilicdaroglu in April. The opposition leader emphasized the need to rebuild state institutions.
Economic concerns have also loomed large throughout the election. Turkey’s struggling lira and banking stability have raised alarm. Erdogan’s unorthodox theory of lowering interest rates to combat inflation has backfired, leading to soaring inflation rates and a temporary lira depreciation. The lira’s relative stability during the campaign period suggests significant market interventions by the government. However, economists believe that a reversal of monetary policy or a cessation of lira support may be necessary to avoid a full-fledged crisis post-election.
As Turkey heads into a critical phase, the outcome of the election and subsequent economic decisions will shape the country’s future trajectory.
