What impact does the earthquake in Turkey have on Erdoğan’s political future?
Just three months before the biggest test of his political career, a disastrous 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Turkey and Syria, resulting in over 22,000 deaths so far. On May 14th, Turkish people will head to the polls for presidential and parliamentary elections. Pre-earthquake surveys indicated a tough competition for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been at the helm of Turkey’s government since 2003. Even before Monday morning and the occurrence of this deadly disaster, Mr. Erdoğan was grappling with numerous crises. His unconventional approach to the economy led to soaring inflation, causing prices to rise by 85% last year. Simultaneously, his government faces accusations of corruption, disarray, and fumbling in dealing with natural disasters, such as the forest fires in 2021. It seems Erdoğan, aware of these challenges, has stepped into the fray. Just hours after the earthquake, he took charge during a press conference in Ankara.