Turkey: Erdogan to run in first direct presidential election

Expert Comment (Real Instituto Elcano de Estudios Internacionales y Estratégicos) 45/2014, 2/7/2014

William Chislett *

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister for the last 11 years and an increasingly authoritarian and polarising figure, will, as expected, run in the country’s first direct election for the presidency on 10 August.

No one expects him to lose, least of all Erdogan himself. His Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) has won the last six general and local elections. He faces a term limit as prime minister next year.

* Associate researcher at the Elcano Royal Institute.

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