The 2023 Turkish Elections—A Roller Coaster Ride between Hope and Despair

The opponents of Erdogan feel “ghosted” by their leaders

By Selin Bengi Gumrukcu, Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Rutgers University

Originally published in Public Seminar, June 14, 2023

“The 2023 Turkish elections, held on the centennial of the Turkish Republic, carried significant symbolic importance. This symbolism was reflected in the election slogan adopted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) prior to the 2011 national elections: “Turkey is ready, the goal is 2023” (Türkiye hazır, hedef 2023). It demonstrated how early the ruling party started preparing for 2023.

However, 2023 began with a disaster for a regime that lacked any apparent preparedness. In early February, two massive earthquakes struck Turkey, resulting in the tragic loss of tens of thousands of lives and profoundly impacting both the political landscape and emotional well-being of the nation.

The toll on people’s emotions was immense, with grieving individuals mourning the loss of loved ones, and residents in earthquake-prone regions experiencing fear and sleep disturbances. Even dedicated volunteers who assisted in the affected areas developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

The earthquakes also reshaped the political landscape, providing hope for the opposition as the AKP’s standing in public opinion polls fell following these events.

What followed was an emotional rollercoaster…”

Read the full text, linked here.