Erdogan announces that he will not run for re-election in Turkey: “These are my last elections” |

Erdogan will not run for re-election. Or at least that’s what he promised. The announcement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has just turned 70 and has led the country for 21 years, has caught everyone by surprise, firstly because it was not written in the speech he gave on Friday night at a foundation. close to the Government. And secondly, because he still has four years left in his term and, according to his interpretation of the Constitution, he might opt for one more term.

“I work non-stop. We are in a race that takes our breath away. Because for me, it is a final,” he said, referring to the municipal elections that will be held on March 31 and in whose campaign Erdogan has been deeply involved, because he attaches great importance to them: he intends for his Justice Party and the Development (AKP) regain control of important city councils such as those of Istanbul or Ankara, where the social democratic opposition won in 2019 following a quarter of a century of Islamist control. “According to the law, these [las municipales] They are my last choices; Its result will mean a transfer of responsibilities to the brothers who will come following me,” she added.

His statements have been received with some skepticism. “He has already made similar announcements in the past,” recalls Selim Koru, academic and analyst of the think-tank TEPAV: “It is aimed at generating a sentimental response in dissatisfied voters [con el AKP] that they might go to the YRP.” This ultra-conservative formation, the New Welfare Party (YRP), founded by the son of Erdogan’s political mentor and which has recruited former AKP officials, ran in last year’s elections within the coalition led by the Islamist president, but In the local ones he has decided to attend on his own. Polls show that it might achieve very good results in certain provinces and is taking away important portions of the vote from the AKP, which might prevent it from reaching mayoralties where the result will be played in a few percentage points.

The opposition newspaper Republic He recalled the occasions when Erdogan has promised that a certain electoral process would be his last. For example, regarding the 2011 elections. Or, in 2012, when he promised that it would be the last time he would become president of the AKP. “Those times he also told the truth. The 2011 elections were the last legislative elections in which he stood and following 2014 he abandoned the presidency of the party and only returned [en 2017] “following the resignation of two other presidents, so he complied with the party rule that we can only hold office continuously for three terms,” ​​says a source from Erdogan’s party: “So yes, these will be his last elections.” . Unless there is a legislative change.” This source did not want to confirm or deny whether this legislative change is part of the party’s or the Government’s plans during this legislature.