Turkey elections

Ballot papers are counted after members of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipal Council cast their votes to elect an interim deputy mayor.

Turkey deports BBC reporter as detentions near 1,880 amid protest crackdown

A BBC journalist was deported as Turkish authorities widened their media crackdown, with around 250 people having been detained pending trial during protests.

Newly elected interim mayor of Istanbul, Nuri Aslan of CHP, waits to speak to the media on March 26, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey's opposition elects acting mayor as Imamoglu remains detained, protests persist

The Turkish president accuses opposition of sabotaging the economy amid ongoing detentions against protestors over the arrest of the Istanbul mayor.

Protesters clash with Turkish riot police using tear gas and water cannon during a demonstration following the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul in Ankara, on March 22, 2025.

Imamoglu's arrest triggers emergency market measures as Turkey stocks plunge

The Turkish lira and equities have fallen sharply since the arrest last week of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu — a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — on corruption charges, which he denies.

University student wave Turkish national flags as they gather in protest in Besiktas district in Istanbul on March 20, 2025 following Istanbul metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's detention over a corruption probe.

Analysis

Turkey’s shaky economy early casualty of Imamoglu’s arrest on terror charges

The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on dubious terror charges has rattled investor confidence, sending the lira plunging, triggering market turmoil and raising fears of prolonged political instability.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

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Analysis

Erdogan’s enduring grip over Turkey assured with Imamoglu's arrest

Supporters of Istanbul metropolitan mayor Ekrem Imamoglu hold a poster of him as they demonstrate outside Istanbul townhall against his detention over a corruption probe in Istanbul on March 19, 2025.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Turkish university revokes Imamoglu's degree, jeopardizing presidential bid

Ekrem Imamoglu

Analysis

2024 turnaround: Assad fall grants Turkey’s Erdogan electoral rebound

Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attends the third session of the G20 Leaders' meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Nov, 19, 2024.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

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Turkey mulls peace talks with Kurds amid fears of Israeli strike on Iran

Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples DEM Party attend a rally for the Turkish Municipal elections to be held on March 31, in Esenyurt Square, in Istanbul on Feb. 25, 2024.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein gives a joint press conference with his German counterpart at the foreign ministry headquarters in Baghdad on March 7, 2023. (Photo by Murtaja LATEEF / AFP) (Photo by MURTAJA LATEEF/AFP via Getty Images)

Iraqi FM expects continuity in ties with Turkey, no matter who wins election

Fuad Hussein says TotalEnergies deal “would change character of Iraqi economy,” discusses relations with the United States, Iran, Syria and Arab states.

BEIJING, CHINA - MAY 13: Chinese President Xi Jinping and wife Peng Liyuan welcome Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine at the welcoming banquet for the Belt and Road Forum on May 13, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jason Lee - Pool/Getty Images)

Analysis

Turkey Elections: China-Erdogan ties strained over Uyghurs despite economic boost

Turkey has toned down its criticism of China over the persecution of Uyghur Muslims, and though trade ties remain relatively strong, Sino-Turkish relations are not especially warm.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend the opening ceremony of the Turkstream Gas Pipeline Project on January 08, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. The TurkStream project comprises two underwater gas lines, each with an annual capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters. Gas will initially flow to Turkey, while a combination of existing and new pipelines will subsequently take supplies via Bulgaria to Serbia and then on to Hungary. Russia is building TurkStream and doubling

Turkey's Kilicdaroglu accuses Russia of creating 'deepfakes' against opposition

The comments from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main challenger come amid increasing scrutiny by the opposition of the current government's ties with Moscow.

Supporters wave flags and chant slogans while waiting for the arrival of CHP Party presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu during a campaign rally on April 30, 2023 in Izmir, Turkey. CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu is holding campaign rallies across Turkey ahead of the countries May 14, 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections. The Kilicdaroglu-led Nation Alliance is representing six opposition parties in next month's election against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 20-year rule. (Photo by Burak Kara/

Turkey Elections: Latest polls put Erdogan challenger on verge of first-round win

Polls place Kemal Kilicdaroglu on the verge of getting a majority in the first round, a chance further boosted after Muharrem Ince bowed out of the presidential race.

Leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Turkey Elections: Kilicdaroglu outreach to US, NATO hindered by Russia ties

Even if victory for the opposition reinvigorates Turkey’s relations with NATO, analysts say there’s no chance Ankara will break off ties with Russia.

Muharrem Ince

Breaking | Last Updated: May 12, 2023, 8:48 am

Turkey Elections: Presidential candidate Ince withdraws from race

Muharrem Ince's withdrawal could boost main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu's chances against incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey election

Turkey Elections: A Kilicdaroglu win could reset strained US relations

The man hoping to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised to restore US-Turkey relations that soured over a host of issues, including Ankara's rights record.

Turkey election

Turkey Elections: Campaign approaches climax with gunshots, fears of  fraud

Turkey’s electoral watchdog rejected the Interior Ministry’s request for electoral information, as the opposition accused the ministry of trying to create a “parallel electoral center.”

People walk past a poster showing the portrait of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, presidential candidate of the main opposition alliance, and the words translating to "Promise to You," Istanbul, Turkey, May 05, 2023.

Analysis

Turkey Elections: Gulf investments likely to be challenged if Erdogan loses

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s Party and presidential competitor, said he will reevaluate Gulf country purchases in Turkey if he wins in the May 14 elections.

By Salim A. Essaid

Foreign Ministers’ quadripartite meeting.

First Turkey-Syria FM meeting in Russia agrees to work on refugees, terrorism

Ankara, for its part, stressed the need for cooperation on the return of Syrian refugees, the top Turkish diplomat said ahead of Turkey's crucial elections.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to supporters at a rally while campaigning for the presidential election on May 07, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. On May 14th, Turkey’s President Erdogan will face his biggest electoral test as voters head to the polls in the country’s general election. Erdogan has been in power for more than two decades, first as prime minister and then as president, but his popularity has taken a hit recently due to Turkey’s ongoing economic crisis and his government’s handling o

Turkey Elections: Absentee voting ends with record 51% turnout in 73 countries

Absentee voting, which ended on Tuesday for nearly 3.5 million Turkish citizens registered abroad, saw record participation.

Ceylan Akca and Amberin Zaman

LISTEN: Turkey's efforts to terrorize Kurdish voters will fail, says Green Left Party candidate

Ceylan Akca, a candidate for the pro-Kurdish Green Left Party, speaks to Amberin Zaman about expectations for this Sunday's presidential and parliamentary vote.