Early elections not ruled out in Turkey - expert

ArmInfo.Turkish President Recep Erdogan's one sole aim in implementing his domestic and foreign policy is retaining power, and an early presidential election cannot  be ruled out in that country, expert in Oriental Studies Emma  Begidjanyan said in an interview with ArmInfo. 

The rumors have been circulating in Turkey over the last year about  the Turkish president's intention to hold an early presidential  election this November. This June, however, Erdogan stated once again  that no early presidential or parliamentary elections would be held  in the country, and the elections would take place in June 2023.  Recep Erdogan's traditional rival, the Republican People's Party, is  claiming that by means of early elections the Turkish president is  seeking to identify his falling rating, with all the recent polls  being evidence thereof. 

And numerous reasons for President Erdogan's falling rating can be  cited. The major reason is a most unfavorable social and economic  situation in the country due to the ongoing inflation. According to  the latest data, 78.62% annual inflation was recorded in Turkey, with  some sectors - transport, for instance - recording 123.37% inflation.  Food prices have recorded a 94% rise. One of the "achievements" of  the Erdogan-led government and Central Bank is the depreciation of  the Turkish lira against the USD over the last year - TRL 8/$1 to  17/$1. Over the last ten years, the Turkish lira has recorded 9-time  depreciation. 

According to the expert, the current situation in Turkey only incites  president Erdogan to further crackdowns. Specifically, he is now  aiming at the third most popular Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and  seeking to get its 11%. With this end in view, HDP offices are being  attacked throughout Turkey, its representatives in the Turkish  Parliament are being unseated and charged with being linked to the  gunmen of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In a similar way,  Erdogan is getting rid of Kurdish reporters. 

To win over the voters, President Erdogan is using his trump card,  namely, Turkey's foreign policy achievements. Among them are Turkey's  expansion into Iraq and Syria, its decisive role in invasion of  Artsakh and desire to normalize relations with Armenia on the terms  set by Ankara.

"Of course, Erdogan's latest achievement is Turkey's requirements in  exchange for lifting its veto on the admission of Finland and Sweden  to NATO. He has managed to exacerbate the situation by stating Turkey  got from both countries all that it had planned to. However, a number  of Turkish analysts believe that the Turkish leader made a lot of  fuss about that. And the real achievements are much more moderate  than Erdogan is trying to show the voters," Ms Begidjanyan.