Leader of Turkey's largest opposition party: early presidential elections to be held in fall 2027

Early presidential elections in Turkey will take place no later than October 2027.

This statement was made by Özgür Özel, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

"The elections will take place no later than October 2027, all signs in Ankara point to this. We must be ready for elections at any moment, so we are starting a campaign to prepare for them," the Turkish opposition leader's remarks were reported by the Anka news agency.

Presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey are scheduled for May 2028. Analysts do not rule out the possibility of them being held at the end of 2027, although President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly stated that early elections are not on the government's agenda.

According to the pro-government newspaper Türkiye, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) considers it advisable to hold elections before May 14, 2028, so that Erdoğan can run for a third presidential term. Earlier, the publication reported plans to organize early elections in November 2027, but these plans changed due to potential risks to the economy caused by the Iranian war.

Erdoğan first became president of Turkey in 2014. In 2017, constitutional amendments were adopted, introducing a presidential system and resetting the number of terms he could serve as head of the republic. Erdoğan was re-elected as president in the 2018 and 2023 elections. In 2028, when the next scheduled elections are due, his current term of office will expire.

Erdoğan will be able to run again based on a parliamentary decision for early elections before the expiration of his term on May 28, as well as with the adoption of a new constitution that resets previous presidential terms or changes the rules for electing the head of the republic. The ruling AKP does not have the majority of 360 votes in the 600-seat parliament needed to pass a decision on early elections and constitutional amendments, requiring allies from other parties for this purpose.

Source: TASS