The Turkish presidential administration has turned down requests for early elections, as Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s presidential term is set to continue until 2028.
⠀
There were local elections in Turkey on Sunday. Initial data shows that the opposition Republican People’s Party of Turkey (CHP) is ahead of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for the first time in 20 years. Opposition mayors of major cities – Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir – kept their positions. Experts attributed the ruling team's failure to the challenging economic situation in the country; they predict that the opposition may demand early presidential elections after their recent success.
⠀
“The main thing that needs to be emphasized is that the presidential system cannot generate electoral demands on the government and parliament based on the results of local elections. Even in a parliamentary system, the issue of the influence of local elections on general elections is resolved in extremely rare cases, and thinking about “that such an effect will be in the presidential system is just empty dreams. Maybe there are those who dream of such fantasies, but the system rejects such consolations,” the adviser to the Turkish leader Mehmet Uçum wrote on the social network X.
⠀
According to him, those who make calculations for (early) general (presidential and parliamentary) elections based on the voting performance of parties in local assemblies “should not try in vain.”
⠀
“During the four-year period without elections, which will last until 2028, Turkey will pursue reform policies in all areas. President Erdogan will lead Turkey to new stages depending on the prospect of an independent and strong Turkey, leading the country. Let no one be left in doubt.” , – the adviser noted.
