President Erdogan has ruled Turkey for more than 20 years.
Now he faces his most difficult choice.
But why is it so important?
I got a message the other day from a mother I got to know when I lived in Turkey. She had seen that I was there to monitor the election.
“Can we meet before Friday and have coffee, then I probably won’t go out. Most people are currently busy buying home food so they can get by for a few weeks without leaving the house after the election”.
Another has been asked by his employer to bring everything from the office in case it gets too messy after the election and they have to work from home.
The election is on everyone’s lips in Turkey. Young, old, women, men, right, left. Yes, everyone.
They know the future is at stake but they are also worried about how the result will be received.
Sunday’s election has been called the most important election of the century for Turkey, the most important election of the year for the world and an election that determines Sweden’s future within NATO. Big, distant words.
But why is the choice so important?
In terms of domestic politics, the population wants to see a better economy, most are currently on their knees and are desperate. Many also want Turkey to return to a more secular and democratic rule, but just as many are worried that the country will split without a hard rule. But regardless, they are tired of the current situation.
Foreign policy also has a lot at stake. On the one hand, the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has highlighted Erdogan’s friendly relations with Putin and the West would like Turkey to step away from Russia. On the other hand, Erdogan is praised by the Muslim world for trying to fight Islamophobia and wants him safely in the presidency. The election on Sunday is thus also an election about Turkey’s relations between East and West.
Also for Sweden, the result on Sunday will be decisive for the Swedish NATO application. If the opposition wins, it will at least be faster to get an okay than if Erdogan wins.
But right now most people in Turkey are focused on whether there will be a result as early as Sunday or whether there will be another election in two weeks. Then many fear that there may be noisy days in Turkey.