In Turkey, will one man continue to rule them all? The May 14th elections hold the answer · Global Voices

In Turkey, will one man continue to rule them all? The May 14th elections hold the answer The future of Turkey and its citizens is at stake Written by Arzu Geybullayeva Posted 6 April 2023 7:50 GMT May 14 will go down in the history of Turkish Republic as one of the most important elections to date. The stakes are high, and there is a growing sense among the general public that if the current leadership stays in power, the country's future is grim and uncertain. There is talk of Turkey turning into a Taliban-style theocracy, while others debate whether the country can weather even one more term under the current autocracy. The importance of the upcoming elections rests on the ruling party of Justice and Development (AKP), which has upended democratic norms and values in recent years. Under the AKP, Turkey has curtailed freedom of expression, media plurality, human rights, art and music, women’s rights, and more, largely at the whim of one man — President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. After twenty years in power and consecutive election victories (two presidential races, three referendums, five parliamentary elections, minus the municipal elections in 2019) since 2002, the fate of the ruling party and its leaders is on the table, but so is the future of Turkey and its citizens. More:In Turkey, will one man continue to rule them all? The May 14th elections hold the answer · Global Voices