AK Party’s Election Plans: Erdoğan definitely candidate, election in March 2028

Besti Karalar, TBMM (parliament) correspondent of EKONOMI newspaper shares significant insights from Ankara’s political circles. He has recently reported on AK Party’s election plans. Karalar says, party circles believe Erdoğan will be nominated as a candidate once again, in 2028.

According to Karalar, party insiders are confident that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be nominated as a candidate once again, with the election date set for March 2028. Here are the details from Karalar’s column, “Ankara Diary”.

In Ankara’s political circles, it’s considered a certainty that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will run for re-election. The only feasible way for this to happen, for now, is if Parliament makes a decision to schedule the election earlier than the official date. However, this is not being discussed as an early election but rather as an election with an adjusted date. The plan would involve a decision in 2027, followed by an election in 2028.

Another way would be to amend the Constitution to allow the President to run again, though this possibility is seen as unlikely. Thus, a decision by Parliament remains the sole viable option.

The next presidential election in Turkey is set for no later than May 14, 2028. If the election is held on schedule, Erdoğan cannot run again. However, if Parliament reschedules the election for a date before May 14, it could open the door for his candidacy.

As in previous elections, Parliament is considering the option of adjusting the election date rather than calling for an early election.

“Decision in 2027, Election Around March 2028”

AK Party circles are discussing scenarios where Turkey will not head to an early election but instead to an election set a few months earlier than scheduled. Similar to previous elections, Turkey would not hold an early election but would proceed with a slightly adjusted timeline.

In 2023 elections Erdoğan dissolved the Parliament

In the 2023 elections, there was also debate over whether President Erdoğan could run for re-election. To settle the debate, Erdoğan used his constitutional authority, dissolving Parliament to allow the election to proceed.

Rescheduling rather than early election

At the time, the government referred to this as a “rescheduling” rather than an early election. Now, the same approach, with a parliamentary decision, is on the table.

According to AK Party sources, “Parliament could decide in December 2027 that the presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in March instead of May 14. This way, it would not be an early election but a rescheduled one.”

SOURCE: EKONOMIM.COM (translated by BTT)