Today, neighboring Turkey is holding the country’s most critical election in 20 years – both for the course of the country itself and for how the outcome will affect Ankara’s relations with the West, and the wider geopolitical scene.

Polls have shown that Erdogan’s battle with Kemal Kilicdaroglu at the polls will not be an easy task.

The last before the polls showed a lead of 49.1% Kilicdaroglu – 46.9% Erdogan

The election campaign of Erdogan – who after 20 years of rule wants to remain in power as an absolute sultan – has focused on his government’s achievements in the defense industry and infrastructure projects, with him arguing that the opposition will overturn these projects progress.

Besides these, the Turkish president states that the Turkish opposition accepts orders from the West and that the opposition will submit to the wishes of Western states in the event that it is elected.

What would change in Ankara’s relations with the West with an Erdogan defeat?

In a front page article-intervention Süddeutsche Zeitung argues that a defeat of Tayyip Erdoğan in Sunday’s elections gives Turkey the possibility for a new beginning: “Turkey is not in Latin America, but in a critical point of the world map, between East and West. This is her fate. It is a Muslim country. In the early years of Erdogan’s rule, many hoped that Turkey could combine Islam with Democracy. At the latest after the Gezi Park protests in the summer of 2013, hope proved futile. In the neighboring countries the Arab Spring had already failed, in the West the conviction was being established that Democracy cannot thrive in the East. And now? Muslim Turkey is holding free elections and it is possible to send its president into retirement. The end of Erdogan would be an opportunity, not only for Turkey and the wider region, but for all those in the Middle East who dream of choose their own government. It would mark a change of era, at best a new beginning. For the relations between the EU and Turkey, between Europe and the Near East”.

“Back to Europe” is the headline of DER SPIEGEL magazine about the possible “changing of the guard” in Ankara.

The columnist points out that “(Kemal) Kilicdaroglu has promised to correct Erdogan’s policy. In an interview with SPIEGEL, he clearly stated that he perceives Turkey as an integral part of the West. Kilicdaroglu is likely to implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, which would pave the way for the release of opposition politician Selahattin Demirtas and philanthropist Osman Kavala. The EU could retaliate by lifting the visa requirement for Turkish citizens (visiting Europe) and starting negotiations with the Ankara government on a deepening of the Customs Union. Even a re-warming of the negotiations for EU membership is not ruled out.”