Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been ruling the country for 22 years, gradually eroding democracy. Since changing the constitution in 2017, he has consolidated power, controlling courts, security, and media outlets. Despite this, Turkey was considered a competitive authoritarian regime, with opposition parties able to win local elections.
However, the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19th may have changed that narrative. Imamoglu is Erdogan’s strongest rival, and his detention has sparked concerns about the state of Turkish democracy. With Erdogan in control, the country’s democratic foundations are under threat.
Source: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/03/25/president-recep-tayyip-erdogan-is-throttling-turkeys-democracy