Opposition warns of 'worst case scenario' if Erdogan wins - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Tulin Daloglu

Tulin Daloglu

Aug 7, 2014

Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP) and presidential candidate, makes a speech during a meeting to launch his election campaign in Istanbul July 15, 2014. The first round of voting in presidential election will be held on August 10. Slogan on the banner partly reads that: "Peaceful Turkey" REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3YQ3O — Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HDP) and presidential candidate, launches his election campaign in Istanbul, July 15, 2014. — REUTERS/Murad Sezer

People walk past election posters for Turkey's Prime Minister and presidential candidate Tayyip Erdogan (L), Turkish main opposition presidential candidate Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu (R) and Selahattin Demirtas, co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP) and presidential candidate in Istanbul August 8, 2014. Erdogan is set to secure his place in history as Turkey's first popularly-elected president on Sunday, but his tightening grip on power has polarised the nation, worried Western allies and

Erdogan's divisive politics will give him first-round victory

Kadri Gürsel

Ballots are seen under a stamp, with the word "yes", at a polling station in Ankara March 30, 2014. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan looks set to win Sunday's municipal elections that have become a crisis referendum on his 10-year rule as he tries to ward off graft allegations and stem a stream of damaging security leaks. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3J6TT

Turkey's political theater signals potential new parties

Tulin Daloglu

Turkey's Prime Minister and presidential candidate Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech during a meeting to launch his election campaign in Istanbul July 11, 2014. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3Y72V

If Erdogan wins presidency, what next?

Henri Barkey

The main opposition candidate in Turkey's presidential election, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu speaks after he cast his vote for Turkey's presidential election at a polling station in Istanbul, Turkey, on August 10, 2014. Turks were voting in their first direct presidential election Sunday _ a watershed event in TurkeyÕs 91-year history, where the president was previously elected by Parliament. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has dominated the country's politics for the past decade, is the strong front-runn

Turkish opposition remains in denial of its failed strategies

Tulin Daloglu