There Is Hope for Democracy in Turkey, Even If Erdogan Wins Again
Soner Cagaptay
Sigma Insight Turkey
June 20, 2018
Three ascending candidates are whittling away at Erdogan's base, posing a long-term challenge to his rule even if they can't unseat him in this election.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces stiff competition from his opponents, including main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) candidate Muharrem Ince and Iyi (Good) Party leader Meral Aksener, in Sunday’s elections, when the Turks will vote for a president and also the parliament. Odds are stacked in Erdogan’s favor: polls are held under a state of emergency; pro-Erdogan businesses control around 90 percent of the media; the government can censor online content; and a new electoral law will staff election-monitoring bodies with government appointees vice the independent monitors in past elections.
More:There Is Hope for Democracy in Turkey, Even If Erdogan Wins Again - The Washington Institute for Near East Policy