Erdoğan: ‘It’s not over until we say it’s over’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made his first party speech in parliament on Wednesday (April 17) since Turkey’s local elections on March 31, which saw massive losses for his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in municipalities across the country. In his speech, he touched on the election results, arguing that his coalition had emerged from the elections […]
Turkey’s role in the Iran-Israel crisis thus far
According to reporting from BBC Türkçe, Turkey has served as an intermediary between Iran and the United States as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate following Iran’s missile attacks over the weekend. Additionally, statements released by Turkey’s Foreign Ministry have been critical of Israel while avoiding direct condemnation of Iran. A press statement released Sunday (Aprıl […]
Turkish Central Bank reports record losses following “the world’s most expensive economic experiment”
Turkey’s central bank (TCMB) recently announced record losses of 818.2 billion Turkish Liras for 2023. Economists who spoke to Birgün newspaper attributed the losses to the central bank’s protected deposit policy, instituted in late 2021 to slow soaring inflation of the Lira. Protected deposit payments Turkey has suffered persistent inflation since 2018. December 2021 saw a notable crisis when […]
Mayoral certification crisis in Turkey sparks unprecedented dissent in ruling party
A mayoral certification crisis in Van province following the local elections sparked arguments among prominent figures within President Erdoğan’s AK Party. Presidential Advisor Mehmet Uçum defended the desertification process saying that it was a legal necessity, earning a harsh rebuttal by AKP MP Babuşçu. Following last Sunday’s local elections, opposition parties scored historic wins against […]
Van mayor-elect’s victory reinstated following controversial disqualification reversal
On Sunday’s local elections in Turkey, pro-Kurdish DEM Party candidate Abdullah Zeydan won mayorship in the eastern province of Van with 55.48% of the vote, besting second-place Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate Abdulahat Arvas, who finished with 27.15%. Zeydan’s victory, however, was invalidated when it emerged that on March 29, two days before the election was […]
Recounts continue after Turkey’s local election, as ruling party refuses to go quietly into the night
A recount is currently underway in Istanbul’s Gaziosmanpaşa and Beykoz districts, where the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) won Sunday’s local elections by a thin margin. In another close race in Kayseri’s Pınarbaşı district, CHP’s victory was overturned by Turkey’s Supreme Election Council (YSK), with a rerun election scheduled for June 2. Istanbul – Gaziosmanpaşa In Gaziosmanpaşa’s close race, CHP […]
Turkey local elections: Turmoil in former opposition partner following crushing defeat
After the local elections on Sunday (March 31st), the primary opposition party CHP secured the majority of votes, while its previous coalition ally, the İYİ Party, managed to obtain only 3.7%. With the decision of the party leader Meral Akşener to dissolve the coalition, the İYİ Party could only secure 23 districts and a single […]
Historic local elections in Turkey as opposition deals unprecedented blow to Erdoğan
Turkey’s main opposition party has achieved a historic victory against the nation’s 22-year ruling party as well as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In a stunning turn of events, the opposition secured the majority of votes nationwide for the first time since 1977, prompting the two-decade de-facto ruler of Turkey to deliver his first-ever concession speech. […]
Turkey’s first astronaut brandishes Erdogan’s ambitions
By Anne CHAON © Agence France-Presse When Turkey’s first astronaut blasts off for the International Space Station (ISS) this week, he will embody his country’s pride and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s outsized geopolitical ambitions. Alper Gezeravci, a 43-year-old fighter pilot and colonel in Turkey’s air force, is due to take off on Wednesday from the […]
Brawl mars Turkish football’s return from suspension
© Agence France-Presse A violent fight involving flying kicks marred Turkish football’s return from a week-long suspension caused by a club president punching a referee. Tuesday’s altercation between players from Bursaspor and Diyarbakirspor involved two third-division teams with a history of ethnically fuelled tensions. Viral images showed Bursaspor players rushing at their visitors from Diyarbakir — […]
Erdoğan: “Even if we halt all our other payments, we will not be able to provide our retirees with the pension hikes they have been promised”
Following a cabinet meeting on Monday (March 4), President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized opposition promises to significantly hike pension payments, saying that such a hike would not be feasible even if other cuts are made. Referring to an opposition proposal to significantly hike pension payments, Erdoğan said “In recent days I have explained how opposition promises to […]
Economist Daron Acemoğlu criticizes Turkish Central Bank inflation numbers as ‘unrealistic’
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) economics professor Daron Acemoğlu spoke to Reuters last week regarding inflation figures announced by Turkey’s Central Bank (TCMB) for February, as well as their projections for the remainder of 2024, describing the numbers as ‘unrealistic’. The numbers released by Turkey’s central Bank at the end of February forecast inflation peaking at […]
