Turkish Elections: What are the consequences of an Erdogan defeat?

I'm joined by Galip Dalay, Associate Fellow specialising in Turkey at Chatham House, Nick Baird, a former UK ambassador to Turkey (2006-2009) who met President Erdogan on numerous occasions and Catherine Philp, The Times Diplomatic Correspondent.

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[johnkean]

Have a careful look at Greece before you go Euro. Its great having your property overnight worth Euros instead of Lira then you have to find 30, 000 Euro when you need a new roof.

[flesz_]

I can't imagine turkey joining EU and be forced to accept LGBT

[teresmajor]

Sorry to let you down Europe. I really wished my home country would get back to its secular roots that we sprouted a hundred years ago. But this is not the end. Hopefully the 2nd round will beat this corrupted system.

[jackieharper]

Good old Times Radio....always positive....always looking on the bright

[chazchazfbi]

The turnout for the Turkish elections was the highest Europe has ever seen. democracy has spoken why can’t democratic countries except this? You should worry what’s going on in Palestine put your efforts to good work & stop manipulating minds and fueling propaganda

[zapfanzapfan]

Erdogan was good for the economy for about 15 years, since then, not so much...

[AbidAli-bvgl]

Catherine Philp, UK kicked out round the globe even in USA

[dgrando]

Thought putin had a party hat on for a hot sec

[simonkevnorris]

Isn't Turkey's economy too volatile for the EU?

[johnkean]

They'd be silly to have a change in leadership half way through him dealing with a crisis There will be set backs.

[ytxr]

Kathrine, Erdoğan did not invent presidency within turkey. You're surely confusing whom you're talking about, I believe you were referring to the founding father and once great leader and war general Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who was the 1st president of the Republic of Turkey now Türkiye.

[AsadAli-kkig]

Western propagandists are at it again 😂😂

[stephensipe]

Turkei’s future is complicated. They have established links to the EU. Nevertheless, they have also positioned themselves to be the brains behind a Federation of Turkish States.

For Turkei to become an EU Member State will still take many years. I am not sure most citizens of Turkei want to be full EU members. The currency conversion would be devastating. They free movement of people may be welcome, but to average Turks look in the mirror and see a European? In Ukraine, this is a decisive YES. In Turkei, the answer might be a resounding MAYBE.

Turkei has other alternatives. For example, if Turkei supported the Kurdish identity within a Federal Turkei, it could be argued northeastern Syria and northern Iraq should be part of a greater Turkish State. In many parts of these areas, a Turkoman population also exists. This is one possible future.

Turkei could also be coordinator of a Central Asia Confederation Of Turkish States. This group of Member States would not be as “selective” as the EU. It could promote infrastructure connectivity via communications, roads, railroads, and canals. If inflation and economic policies could be coordinated, it might be able to create a common currency. I have previously posted Swiss Banks could help by holding currency reserves, gold, and printing physical money. If oil and gas storage was also used to balance currency, storages could be monitored. This is another non-EU Turkei future. It might appear more accepting of Turkish culture to average Turks.

[GiantRock]

Kathrine and ex British ambassador still think Turkiye is another British colony that is breaking away.

[ephilippos]

As Britain voted to veto EU membership then & it was more or less expected, Turkey is also exoected it not be joining the EU anytime…more like
leaning closer to Asia &..beyond nowadays😮!!

[superbalaur]

Empire of Lies!
How low can you stoop?!

[GiantRock]

Kathrine needs to be educated by a proper Turk as she is clearly confused about Turkiye.

[raginaldmars]

Pu Tin will Annexe Asia Minor
to the Crimea Em Pire
as this was part of Osmania

[ArgHelo]

Turkey is several countries in one really. You've got Kurdistan in the east, conservative Islamists in the centre, and Western leaning, more secular minded people on the Aegean coast.

[Oluinneachain]

Thank you UK for sacrificing your EU membership just to keep Turkey out! 😂