Turkey’s Existential Election

Ahead of Sunday’s vote, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lashes out against enemies while Turks brace for political violence.

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Posters of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the presidential candidate of the Main Opposition alliance, at Taksim Square in May 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

ISTANBUL—Millions of Turkish voters will cast ballots Sunday to either end or extend President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s two-decade rule. His rivals are banking on Turkey’s economic disrepair, corruption, and authoritarian lurch to win over supporters, while Erdoğan is fanning old grievances—including against the United States and its allies—to hold onto power.

“We need to teach America a lesson,” Erdoğan said recently, calling on his base to vote by doubling down on a claim that the United States is backing his rival, Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu took the accusations of American meddling a step further during a campaign event last month, charging the West with plotting to overthrow Erdoğan via the election. “July 15 was their actual coup attempt,” Soylu said in reference to Turkey’s failed military putsch in July 2016, which he and other government officials have baselessly blamed on the U.S. “And May 14 is their political coup attempt. It is a coup attempt that can be formed by bringing together all preparations to eliminate Turkey.”

Binali Yıldırım, Turkey’s former prime minister and a failed Istanbul mayoral candidate for Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), warned this week of election interference by America, Europe, “devils,” and other alleged foes. 

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  1. Retired Prosecutor

    There is a reason Turkey has long been known as “The Sick Old Man of Europe.”

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    Bradley Alpert

    Thank you for this informative piece. Stay safe.

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    Slp

    I'm sure that the earthquake and corruption with respect to the building codes plays into this. It's a pretty constant reminder I would think of Erdogan's poor leadership.

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    JohnD

    Charlotte- thanks for this update on an under-appreciated and rising foreign power. While Turkey at times acts as a NATO member and ally, they are increasingly looking like a free agent willing to sell themselves to the highest bidder. Be careful over there…the election and follow up May led to some civil unrest.

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    Richard Maxton

    *like*

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  6. R. James

    Ah, Turkey, the red-headed step-child of NATO. With friends like these...

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  7. 24601

    Thanks for the reporting on an important election.

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  8. Patrick.Ferrini

    Thank you for this fantastic piece. I was looking for a primer on just this topic and you did an excellent job.

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    CynthiaW

    Very informative.

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  10. Brad Fisher

    Worrisome. If you think Trump or Bolsanero were bad on the way out.. and they were. I don’t see any way Erdogan leaves peacefully or at all for that matter. Who’s going to evict him from his palace?

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