“Less than two weeks before elections, Erdogan faces unprecedented challenges that could end his 20-year rule,” the article reads.
The criticality of the upcoming elections in Turkey and the possibility that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will lose in the electoral battle, is referred to in today’s CNN article – analysis.
“Presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey are less than two weeks away, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan facing unprecedented challenges that could end two decades of rule,” the article reads.
How can Erdogan lose?
Voters will go to the polls on May 14, deciding the fate of Turkey’s democracy less than three months after the February 6 earthquake and amid a severe economic crisis.
Polls show massive voter turnout but no favorites – it’s a close race between Erdogan and main opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and presidential candidate of the six-party National Alliance bloc.
How can Erdogan lose?
Turkey’s earthquake left more than 50,000 dead and millions displaced in southern Turkey.
Most of the affected provinces were strongholds of Erdogan and his AK Party.
But according to the head of the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) Ahmet Gener, at least 1 million voters in the earthquake-hit zones are expected not to vote this year amid displacement.
On the other hand, Turkey’s Kurds are expected to play an important role in the election as the “persecuted” pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) has not fielded a presidential candidate, but recently officially endorsed Erdogan’s main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
A Metropoll survey last month showed that the vast majority of HDP voters are likely to vote for Erdogan’s main rival.
What if Erdogan loses?
Even if Kilicdaroglu wins the election, analysts say Erdogan and the AK Party will not hand over power without a fight.
If Turkish President Erdogan loses the vote by a narrow margin, it opens up the possibility of contesting the results, as he did in 2019
During the 2019 elections in Istanbul and Ankara, AK lost control of the country’s financial center and capital, prompting party officials in both cities to reject the results, citing voter irregularities.
The CHP’s lead in Istanbul was particularly narrow and ultimately led to the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) ruling in favor of a repeat vote, which the opposition strongly disagreed with.
CHP Istanbul mayoral candidate Ekrem Imamoglu then won the run-off, dealing a blow to Erdogan.
Source :Skai
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