Will Erdogan go on and on?

Today marks ten years since Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was elected president. There will be no celebrations, and Turkish media may make little mention of the anniversary. The date is an important milestone, nonetheless, in Erdoğan’s remarkable career as Turkey’s most successful modern leader since the father of the nation, Kemal Atatürk. In the past ten years, Erdoğan overcame illness, a coup, social unrest and the hostility of several world powers to consolidate his iron grip on the country.

Before the 2014 election, the presidency was mostly a ceremonial role. Erdoğan came to power as prime minister in parliamentary elections in 2002 as head of the AK party. The shift did not happen overnight. In 2018, the country switched from a parliamentary democracy to a presidential system through a referendum, but even before that, no one had any illusions as to who was calling the shots. The failed coup in July 2016 was a major catalyst.