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Erdogan on the ropes — but what comes next?
Tony Burke spoke to the HDP’s HISYAR OZSOY about why Turkey’s most powerful leader since its founder may be facing defeat in the upcoming elections at the hands of a broad opposition alliance
AKP supporters listen to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during an election campaign rally in Ankara, Sunday April 30, 2023, (right) Hisyar Ozsoy of the left-wing opposition HDP party.

IT will be “make or break” for democracy in Turkey as the country goes to the polls to elect a new president and parliament on Sunday May 14.

Polling inside the country shows that Turkey’s long-time authoritarian president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Justice and Development Party and the newly formed opposition alliance are neck and neck with Erdogan, with the opposition narrowly behind in the polls.

But the signs are that Erdogan’s 20-year grip on power may now be loosening. He recently fell ill on live TV (claiming to have stomach flu) which damaged his image of being indestructible.

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