Turkey’s Elections: How Erdoğan Could Try to Engineer a Win and Stay in Power

As Turkey gears up for momentous elections on May 14, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government are expected to use several tactics to undermine the vote and try to engineer a win. 

Controlling key institutions like the judiciary and media, Erdoğan has ensured that the elections will not be fair. Many are also worried that his government could resort to media bans, electoral fraud, and violence on May 14 to win the election or defy a possible loss.

Turkey has a long tradition of holding competitive elections, and opposition parties and civil society are committed to securing the vote. Whatever anti-democratic tactics Erdoğan and his government may deploy on election day, they are sure to face formidable resistance.