Turkey elections

US Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barrack attends a meeting with President Donald Trump and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Trump envoy Barrack’s embrace of 'strong leaders' sparks fury in Turkey

Turkish opposition members say envoy Tom Barrack’s remarks praising “strong leaders” and monarchies undermine Turkey’s democratic tradition and embolden President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to MPs at his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on Jan. 21, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey.

Analysis

How the Iran war is giving Turkey's Erdogan a big boost

Opinion polls show Turks turning to Erdogan as a steady hand during the war, even as the country's finances remain fragile.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

In Turkey, is Bilal Erdogan preparing to replace his father?

Analysts say Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son is more likely to seek a leadership position in his party before a presidential bid as surveys point to weak popular support.

Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

A picture of Akin Gurlek.

Erdogan taps Istanbul prosecutor as justice minister in cabinet reshuffle

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday appointed Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akin Gurlek, who has been overseeing the ongoing investigation against Turkey’s main opposition party as justice minister.

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Analysis

Eyeing Turkey, Netanyahu boosts Greece, Cyprus ties ahead of US visit

ABIR SULTAN / AFP via Getty Images

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Turkey sentences journalist over 4 years in jail for threatening Erdogan

Prominent Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli is pictured in this undated image.

Turkey sees FDI rise 58% as investor confidence returns

Ferries sail on Bosphorus in Istanbul, on August 29, 2025, next to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, known as Bosphorus bridge.

Turkish markets, lira gain as Ankara delays ruling on opposition head's ouster

Serdar Ozsoy/Getty Images

Sinan Ogam and Recep Tayyip Erodgan

Turkey Elections: Ogan’s endorsement boosts Erdogan in Sunday’s runoff

The endorsement from Sinan Ogan, who received more than 5% in first round of vote, bolsters the president’s chances of winning Sunday's poll.

Sinan Ogan, Turkish academician and presidential candidate of the ATA (Ataturk) nationalist alliance speaks during an interview with AFP, in his office in Ankara, on May 16, 2023. Turkey's election officials confirmed that there would be a second round because the remaining uncounted votes would not swing the outcome. Erdogan secured 49.5 percent of the vote and Kilicdaroglu picked up 44.9 percent. Nationalist candidate Sinan Ogan -- a former member of a far-right party now allied with the government -- won

Breaking | Last Updated: May 22, 2023, 12:05 pm

Turkey Elections: Far-right Sinan Ogan throws support behind Erdogan

It remains unclear how the far-right politician's endorsement will impact the outcome of the consequential presidential runoff as his electoral partners rejected to toe his line.

Turkey election

Turkey’s new parliament: 50 shades of nationalism, conservatism

Turkey has ended up with the most nationalist and conservative parliament in its modern history, and where women, LGBT groups will face an uphill battle.

Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and AK Party (AKP) wave flags at the AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Turkey May 14, 2023.

Turkey Elections: Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu court far-right endorsement ahead of runoff

Far-right candidate Sinan Ogan's endorsement remains particularly critical for President Erdogan's rival, with merely nine days to go until the presidential election runoff.

Election workers prepare ballots at a polling station in Ankara on May 14, 2023.

Turkey's Erdogan says polls mark East-West fault line

A post-election Turkey may well become the "locus for the fault line between the liberal West and the illiberal East" instead of a bridge, as Erdogan has claimed during his time in office.

Leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the joint presidential candidate of the Nation Alliance, Kemal Kilicdaroglu gives a press conference in Ankara on May 18, 2023.

Turkey Elections: Erdogan rival ups nationalist tone, vows to send refugees home

Casting for nationalist votes in the presidential election runoff, opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu takes a sharpened tone on refugees. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) poses with Hungarian Prime minister Viktor Orbán after they met for discussions on Syria and migration on Nov. 7, 2019 in Budapest, Hungary.

Turkey Election: Foreign allies prematurely rush to congratulate Erdogan

In a split from standard diplomatic practices, the Turkish President’s foreign allies openly voiced their support of Erdogan ahead of a critical runoff poll.

US warship Cyprus

Turkey lashes out at US over warship anchored in Cyprus

The island remains ethnically divided between Turkish- and Greek-Cypriots since Turkey’s military intervention in 1974 in response to a Greek military coup.

Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrate.

US braces for another Erdogan era in Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the favorite to win Turkey’s hotly contested runoff election that will have implications for its relationship with Washington.

Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hold a flag of his portrait outside the AKP headquarters.

Turkey officials furious over French cartoon saying only death will end Erdogan's reign

Ankara firmly responded to the French satirical magazine's caricature of the Turkish president being electrocuted while naked.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand on September 16, 2022. (Photo by Alexandr Demyanchuk / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDR DEMYANCHUK/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Erdogan thanks 'dear friend' Putin as Turkey extends Russia-Ukraine grain deal

The extension came as Erdogan prepares to face his rival in the presidential runoff election on May 28.

Sinan Ogan

Turkey's nationalist candidate basks in glory ahead of Erdogan-Kilicdaroglu runoff

Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his secularist challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu each plot strategy behind closed doors as nationalist candidate Sinan Ogan ponders whom to support.