On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for solidarity amongst the nation after triumphing in a historic reelection. This win secures his reign for another 8 years, thus continuing 20yrs of significant yet polarizing control. In almost-final results, Erdogan has secured a four-percentage point lead over Kemal Kilicdaroglu, his secular opposition candidate.
At 69 years old, Erdogan navigated Turkey out of an economic crisis and won his toughest election yet against the most powerful alliance ever to challenge his AK Party. This victory serves as a testament to his resilience and political expertise.
Turks erupted in joyous celebration, sounding car horns and singing songs of tribute outside the Presidential Palace in Ankara. Tributes poured in from all corners of the world, recognizing Turkey’s most influential leader of modern times.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faced a tougher test than ever before in what was regarded as the most crucial election that Turkey has had since it became a post-Ottoman Republic a century ago.
In the first round of Turkey’s historic elections, the opposition’s candidate Kilicdaroglu forced Erdogan into a runoff on May 14th and further narrowed the gap in the second.
Those who weren’t in favour of the current situation in Turkey saw the event as an opportunity to keep it from turning into an authoritarian state, with a leader whose grip on power was comparable to that of the Ottoman rulers.
Erdogan will soon have to face the biggest challenge of his rule – the crumbling Turkish economy. He methodically scoured through multiple central bankers in order to locate one who would carry out his desire to drastically reduce interest rates in 2021 without regard for consequences.
Last year, the Turkish Lira took a major dip leading to an annual inflation rate of 85%. This was a stark contrast to its previous stability. Despite what analysts have forecasted, Erdogan has vowed to persist with his current policies and promised to reject any potential economic danger.
