Türkiye: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 20 years of undivided power

For more than 20 years, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is Turkey’s strongman. A leader often accused of authoritarianism who likes to recall his attachment to democracy. “It is important that all voters vote without worries to show the strength of Turkish democracy”, he declared, Sunday, May 14, on the occasion of the Turkish presidential election. Coming from a pious family in a working-class district of Istanbul (Turkey), Recep Tayyip Erdogan got involved very early in an Islamist political training.

Former mayor of Istanbul

In 1994, he conquered the town hall of Istanbul, before becoming Prime Minister and then President from 2003. Nostalgic for the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire, Recep Tayyip Erdogan very quickly sought to extend Turkish influence to international. Despite its status as a member of NATO, Turkey has moved closer to Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The Turkish president has also tried to establish himself as one of the negotiators for the war in Ukraine. In his country, he now exercises power alone and in an authoritarian manner.