Turkey’s May 14 Election is crucial, says Austin Bay.

Turkey’s Critical National Elections: What’s at Stake?

On May 14, 2023, Turkey will hold national elections that are critical not only for its citizens but also for NATO solidarity, political stability in Eastern Europe, and the West’s ability to counter Iran, Russia, and China in the Middle East. The election pits President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who advocates for authoritarian power and control vested in the president, against the much more moderate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is backed by a six-party coalition committed to ending Erdogan’s reign of economic error, police intimidation, and destructive corruption.

The Significance of the 100-Year Mark

For Turks, the 100-year mark has genuine significance. A century ago, in 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk established the secular Turkish Republic from the ruins of the Ottoman Turk empire. Ataturk was a true revolutionary who successfully created a political system to modernize a culturally Islamic nation. Turkey’s 21st-century democracy is Ataturk’s legacy, but Erdogan intentionally attacks and diminishes Turkey’s democratic institutions.

Erdogan’s Threat to NATO and U.S. Security

Erdogan’s record for jailing journalists and intimidating opponents is fact, not theory. He is also a threat to the integrity of NATO, which means he’s a threat to U.S. security. When he purchased the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, Erdogan put the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s technological edge at risk. Kilicdaroglu says he will revive Turkey’s bid to join the European Union and support Sweden’s admission.

Erdogan’s Economic and Political Mismanagement

Erdogan’s economic and political mismanagement may lead to his defeat. In fall 2022, annual inflation hit 86%, a 24-year high. The February earthquakes were the worst natural disaster in the history of modern Turkey, and Erdogan’s slow and poor response has made the earthquakes an election issue he cannot shake. Government failure to enforce construction standards is also an issue, and some critics suspect corruption by national and local officials contributed to the disaster.

Conclusion

The upcoming national elections in Turkey are critical for its citizens and the world. Will Erdogan’s authoritarian power and control continue to diminish Turkey’s democracy, threaten NATO and U.S. security, and lead to economic and political mismanagement? Or will Kilicdaroglu’s moderate pro-parliamentary process candidacy revive Turkey’s bid to join the European Union and support Sweden’s admission? The world is watching.