Turkey elections

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to MPs at his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on Jan. 21, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey.

Analysis

How the Iran war is giving Turkey's Erdogan a big boost

Opinion polls show Turks turning to Erdogan as a steady hand during the war, even as the country's finances remain fragile.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

In Turkey, is Bilal Erdogan preparing to replace his father?

Analysts say Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son is more likely to seek a leadership position in his party before a presidential bid as surveys point to weak popular support.

Ezgi Akin

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

A picture of Akin Gurlek.

Erdogan taps Istanbul prosecutor as justice minister in cabinet reshuffle

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday appointed Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akin Gurlek, who has been overseeing the ongoing investigation against Turkey’s main opposition party as justice minister.

ABIR SULTAN / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Eyeing Turkey, Netanyahu boosts Greece, Cyprus ties ahead of US visit

Worried about the increasing empowerment of Turkey across the Middle East, Israel is making a show of neighborhood strength with Greece and Cyprus.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

Turkey sentences journalist over 4 years in jail for threatening Erdogan

Prominent Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli is pictured in this undated image.

Turkey sees FDI rise 58% as investor confidence returns

Ferries sail on Bosphorus in Istanbul, on August 29, 2025, next to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, known as Bosphorus bridge.

Turkish markets, lira gain as Ankara delays ruling on opposition head's ouster

Serdar Ozsoy/Getty Images

Turkey detains 30 as government crackdown on opposition deepens: What to know

A protestor holds a placard of Istanbul's detained Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as they listen to the leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel during a rally protesting the 100th day of his detention at Sarachane Square in Istanbul on July 1, 2025. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP) (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images)

People walk past under the posters of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the presidential candidate of the Main Opposition alliance and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Taksim Square on May 10, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. On May 14th, Turkey’s President Erdogan will face his biggest electoral test as the country goes to the polls in the country’s general election. Erdogan has been in power for more than two decades -- first as prime minister, than as president -- but his popularity has recently taken a hit due to

Breaking | Last Updated: May 15, 2023, 12:03 pm

Turkey heads to runoff elections between Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu

Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his top rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu will face each other in the runoff on May 28 after a knife-edge race on Sunday.

A couple walks past billboards with the portrait of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and with the portrait of Republican People's Party (CHP) leader and presidential candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu (R) in Sanliurfa, south-eastern Turkey on April 28, 2023. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP) (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey Elections: Runoff election called as Erdogan faces biggest challenge from Kilicdaroglu

Turkish President Erdogan has finished ahead of main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu as both frontrunners are preparing to face each other in the runoff.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu (C), Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and presidential candidate, takes pictures with children outside the Anitkabir at the Mausoleum of founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during the celebration marking the 103th anniversary of the foundation of Grand National Assembly, National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Ankara, on April 23, 2023. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) (Photo by ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey Elections: Elders still committed to Erdogan, but are their children?

The children of some Erdogan loyalists defy their parents’ political preferences and say they would vote for his rival.

Turkey election

Turkey Elections: As rallies conclude, Erdogan defends Putin, slips in polls

Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu are wrapping up their campaigns; Russia became an issue in Friday’s rallies.

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Erdogan victory would deal big blow to Turkey's democracy, but will it be fatal?

The contest is being cast in apocalyptic terms as a fight between freedom and dictatorship, between recovery and economic ruin.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

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.