Pivotal election in Türkiye

As Türkiye votes for president and parliament, “Table of Six” opposition leaders are focused on a deep economic crisis, sky-high inflation and the aftermath of catastrophic earthquakes that killed 50,000 people

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 69:
Leader of right-wing Justice and Development Party (AKP) has near-complete media control

Erdoğan recently doubled minimum wage to 8,506.80 lira ($455) and secured $5 billion from Saudi Arabia and nearly $10bn from Russia. Inflation is running at 43.7%, and nearly 2.7 million quake survivors continue to live in tents

Devlet Bahçeli, 75 (above left): Bahçeli’s far-right Nationalist Action Party
(MHP) is Erdoğan’s main ally

Muharrem Ince, 58 (above right): Homeland Party
Party (CHP) leader will likely siphon votes from opposition leader Kemal Kiliçdaroğlu. Pro-Erdoğan media networks have helped boost Ince’s poll numbers

Opposition Table of Six
Kemal Kiliçdaroğlu, 74 (above): Former civil servant, head of secularist People’s Party (CHP)
Table of Six is committed to restoring former parliamentary powers to legislate and hold executive accountable. Erdoğan curtailed democratic freedoms in 2018, establishing his all-powerful executive presidency

Other Table of Six parties: Felicity Party (left), Democrat Party (centre), and Future Party (right)

Meral Akşener, 66 (above left): Former interior minister leads centre-right Good Party (İYİ) –
second-largest opposition party

Ali Babacan, 55 (above right): Former prime minister quit AKP in 2019 to form centrist Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA)



 Sources: Bloomberg, The Washington Institute Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS