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Sunday, May 14, faced with a united opposition, Erdogan’s fate is being played out at the ballot box and the outcome of the ballot could have a major impact on international politics. Agnès Vahramian takes stock of the situation, Friday May 12, live from Istanbul (Turkey).
Two days before a decisive election for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey, Sunday May 14, the re-election or defeat of the Turkish president is also an issue on the international scene. “Erdogan, an essential mediator. In Ukraine, he sells drones to kyiv and at the same time talks to Vladimir Putin. He is the one who negotiated the grain agreement”explains journalist Agnès Vahramian, live from Istanbul.
Getting closer to Europe or strengthening its authority?
Although he is indispensable, he is not always 100% reliable as an ally. Turkey is a member of NATO and has blocked Finland’s entry into the Alliance. “He is the one who blackmailed Europe by threatening to dump on it the three million Syrian refugees who are on its territory”, relates the journalist. If the opposition wins, it promises more clarity with NATO, more distance with Moscow and to relaunch discussions with Europe for integration into the EU. “If Erdogan stays, Western capitals fear he will further strengthen his authoritarian rule and further alienate Turkey from democracies”concludes Agnès Vahramian.
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