Is he serious this time? Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks of withdrawing from politics. Critics suspect calculations are behind this.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced his retirement from politics. The nationwide local elections in Turkey at the end of March will be his last election, Erdogan said on Friday. Observers reacted to the statement with suspicion.
The 70-year-old Erdogan has ruled Turkey with his AKP for more than 20 years. In 2003 he became Prime Minister and in 2014 President. Erdogan is not running directly in the upcoming vote on March 31, but for his party the question is whether it can wrest the capital Ankara and the important metropolis Istanbul from the opposition.
Erdogan statements: “Could change his mind a few more times”
Turkish journalist Ragip Soylu commented on the president’s announcement on the platform . By then he could change his mind a few more times or try to change the Constitution.” The next regular presidential elections will take place in Turkey in 2028.
During the presidential election in May 2023, Erdogan called on the population to support him “one last time”. The candidacy was controversial. The opposition, for example, argued that according to the constitution, Erdogan should not have run again.
Source: Stern
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