AS Turkey's highly anticipated presidential and parliamentary elections approach, it is clear that Turkish politics is heading towards the most consequential moment in its recent history. The reason for this is quite simple and rational: after a span of 20 years, the opposition finally senses a genuine opportunity to unseat the incumbent President Recep Tayyib Erdogan, who finds himself in a rather precarious situation. His toughest challenge comes from a unified coalition of six opposition parties, which have banded together to challenge his reign. The country is grappling with a surge in inflation, which has sent shock waves throughout the economy. Adding to the nation's woes are twin earthquakes that have left a staggering 50,000 people dead, leaving the country in a state of mourning and disarray.
As Turkey navigates these turbulent times, the outcome of the upcoming elections will undoubtedly shape the country's future trajectory and global standing. However, the current highly polarized political climate has thrust Erdogan into a particularly uncertain position. Having been at the helm since 2003 as the prime minister and later as president since 2014, Mr. Erdogan's tenure has been quite long. Following a failed coup attempt in 2016, he was granted vast new powers, consolidating his control over the nation. The Justice and Development Party (AKP), which he leads, has been running the show in Turkey since November 2002.
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