Erdogan is Facing the Most Difficult Test of His Life

 

For more than two decades, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dominated all Turkish elections. The country's presidential election is on Sunday. His opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has become a major obstacle for Erdogan in this election. But it is hard to believe that Erdoğan, who rules Turkey with a heavy hand, will accept defeat and go quietly. There is already uncertainty and concern about the elections in Turkey. Controversy over the election results looks set to hit the streets of Europe's second largest city. Many Turks, including the new generation of voters, expect change in eight and a half million people.

 Residents of the country have complained to the government about high inflation, dwindling income and declining living standards. Meanwhile, a massive earthquake hit the country last February. More than 50,000 people were killed there. Besides that, thousands of people have become homeless.

 Kilicdaroglu was narrowly ahead of Erdogan in polls conducted before the country's elections. But in the end, Erdoğan can show his surprise. It enjoys great support among workers in the Anatolian region. Images may change due to this advertisement.

 Those who have seen Erdoğan's rise over the past three decades say that Erdoğan will fight with all his might to stay in power. He will not hesitate to take advantage of state resources to win or prevent victory.

 Author Qadri Garcel said: "If the results do not favor Erdoğan or his margin is small, he will compete with him." But if the opponent wins and wins the ground, he can not do anything special. Erdogan is in the strongest position of his political life.

 A presidential official told Reuters news agency that Erdoğan would call the election commission if any irregularities were found in the election. Similarly, its leader, the Kumhuriyat Halk Party (CHP), also has the chance to apply. But the assertion that he will not leave the government if he wins the election is meaningless. To be elected the president of Turkey, a candidate must win more than 50% of all votes. Recent polls show that two candidates are popular among young people. As a result, supporters of the opposition leaders fear that if a vote is made for Kilicdaroglu, the presidential election will lead to a second vote. If no one gets more than 50% of the vote, a second round of voting will take place two weeks later. If someone gets more than half of the votes in the election, he will be elected directly as president.

 Erdoğan is considered the most influential leader since Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. As he has held power in recent decades, he has also been corrupt. He silenced critics and opposition media. Regulates the judicial and economic system. Three governors have been sacked in the last two years. He detained powerful military commanders after the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan. made the army ineffective. He made the generals come to judge him.

 Erdoğan and his AK Party (AKP) transformed Turkey from Atatürk's secular state to an Islamist nation. Opponents described him as Sultan. Garcel, a journalist, said that Erdoğan has amassed so much power that the crisis has come. Apart from that, there are problems at the economic level in the state and management problems in this system. Many economists blame Erdoğan's orthodox policies and corruption control for the country's runaway inflation. Even three days before the election, Erdoğan could be seen campaigning on television. He cited major projects in the defense, gas and industrial sectors as his achievements. The head of the Istanbul-based EDAM research institute, Sinan Ulgen, said: "Erdoğan is serving, it is this influence that brings him to power. He wanted to be Kemal Ataturk's enemy.

 In fact, the earthquake hit Erdoğan on the forehead. His government's handling of the earthquake was criticized. After the earthquake, Erdogan's government received criticism after the problem of corruption in the construction of some areas was revealed. Analysts attribute many of Turkey's past government failures to austerity and economic turmoil. Ulgen said Erdogan's popularity has declined because of the economic crisis. The current Turkish economy does not follow the principles of freedom and transparency, but is an economy of interest.

 Turkish citizens struggle to pay for food, school fees, rent. When Erdogan came to power in 2003, the country's economy recovered. Turkey's success has become an example for neighboring countries. At that time, even his critics praised him. 

But now critics say that with his success, Erdogan has created a class of corrupt 'Anatolian Tigers' or oligarchs. After successive electoral victories, Erdogan's tolerance began to wane and authoritarian rule became apparent. Today's vote could be a turning point. An Erdogan defeat could return Turkey to a more secular, democratic past.

Kilicdaroglu is making that promise. And if Erdoğan wins, his political enemies will be subjected to more repression, his critics think.