Elections in Turkey: Erdogan's moment of truth? | To the point

Turkey is poised to hold an election that could prove decisive not only for the country’s democracy, but also for Europe and the Middle East. And most especially for the leader who’s been in power for the past 20 years. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing his most contested election ever – with a very real chance of defeat. Some voters are put off by the President’s increasingly authoritarian rule but for many, it’s the economy. Corruption, mismanagement and record high inflation are prompting new support for the opposition coalition aligned behind Kemal Kilicdaroglu. So we’re asking: “Elections in Turkey: Erdogan’s moment of truth?”

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[rambleon]

Yeah, religion in politics is never good for democracy.

[JigilJigil]

Get rid of the dictator before he put an end to the last remaining pieces of democracy and human rights in Turkey.

[joe.oneill]

The opposition is solidifying. That screws up Erdogan's plans big time.

[lenboy]

Every time I look back at Erdogan's political career I am reminded of the movie line "you either die as a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain"

[jstone]

Democracy for Turkey.
Free the citizens from repression.

[kbram]

anyone that allows a man to stay in office for 20 years is insane

[ozzs]

The next day 😭 I can understand how painful it would be for Can Dundar and how much he misses Istanbul. I already voted, but I am very positive, the best days for my country is near

[barrylane]

Wonderful presentation on Turkey. Tears in my eyes!! To The Point with its regular narrator is my favourite YouTube presentation!!!

[cosmiceye]

Rooting for Turkey here. With ❤️ from the Netherlands

[exarder]

Flying to family in Turkey on saturday. Looking forward to the party of the century on sunday.

[niknitro]

❤🇹🇷❤🇦🇹❤
I send my best regards and good luck to TIP from Vienna!
❤🇦🇹❤🇹🇷❤

[nair.]

If he loses, he will not lose gracefully
He has purged the military n civil service
Of many who may oppose him .
It’s not going to be pretty .
I hope I’m wrong .

[Mina-kiiz]

Indecisiveness will cost Türkiye another 4 years of the same. People should know if what they expected has not happened while this government was in power, for the past 20 years, won’t be happening in the next 4 years.

[-.]

Do Turks want to live like Russians, or do they want to live like people in the West. This is what they have to choose between.

[jayap.]

We wish Kemal should come to power he will be a
Change for Turkey and the Europe heis more matured and Reliable frGermany 👍🌺🇩🇪

[SA-ksvz]

Most democratic countries have inflation at 5-8%, authoritarian countries at 15-50%

[StillCrazyFL]

My biggest fear is that neither side will accept whatever election result is reported. I think that will be fundamentally bad for Turkey. Paramount is an honest election, as well. That said, I also feel that any candidate position should promote its vision for the future. Voters should not have to speculate on what manner of government they will have, following an election.

[nottooherbal]

A Putin situation but change in Turkey might encourage opposition to Putin’s rule in Russia.

[axlslak]

I am Romanian. I still remember as a 12 year old boy (newly liberated from communism) what I felt when I first visited Istanbul in like early 1990. Not early 90s, early 90. The year. I loved the Coca-Cola, bananas, and Kebabs. None of which we had under Ceaucescu.

I should mention, that at that particular point in time, I was painfully aware that my country has been under Turkish occupation on and off for about 600 years. They were called ottomans then, but, most of our history is about them mistreating us. I got over it, that moment, in that visit in the year 1990.

Now, I am much older. We (Romanians) didn't see Turkey as a problem to our security since the end of the first world war. And I feel Erdogan is a step back in the unfortunate direction. Not necessarily for Romania, but Greece am sure have a problem with Erdogan, as does Cyprus, as do the poor Kurds. As a citizen of the former Ottoman empire, I would vote for the other guy. The guy that says Sweden can join NATO... no questions asked. That guy. The guy that is NOT a special friend of Putin.

I watched today an interview of the granddaughter of former Soviet Premier Khrushchev, and something stuck with me. She said (paraphrasing): war crimes are going to be a problem because its hard to get over them. Germany is the exception and not the rule in getting over and reconciling with war crimes.

And I'm a google kind of guy, went on google, and first link is war crimes from world war 2. Tones of crimes. It's not just Germany. I mean in Europe it's at least: Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania... and these are just the axis powers that did war crimes. Seems unfair to me to single out just Germany, and making it the exception to the rule, not the rule, which is what the lady said. All of these countries and many more DID war crimes, but somehow got over it.

And here we reach Turkey. And what I wanted to say. Crimes are easily forgotten and forgiven. IF THEY STOP.

The lady was worried that Russia can never ever be forgiven again. Turkey was. Turkey, historically is a much worse enemy to my country then Russia ever was, yet, we don't consider them an enemy. Because they stopped. That is point 1. And point 2, they did have Ataturk. Which... washed away a lot of their sins. I wish THEY (the Turks) would remember him more. I feel like Erdogan and Ataturk are pulling the country in different directions. I know what is dead, but... his work was so time lasting that Erdogan even now, he can't be an emperor for life. And that is because of the reforms Ataturk did and Erdogan (and not only Erdogan), but WW2 and the cold war couldn't change.

But leave them enough time in power, they will finish. It would be a shame. Turkey worked hard.

[paullawson]

Hoping and praying that Erdogan will be replaced with democracy and that the EU will reward this with finally treating Turkey as a full partner. I partly blame the EU holding Turkey at arms length for decades for Turkey's evolved extremism.