The Story
This weekend, Turkey is headed to the polls to elect its next prez.
What's going on over there?
The current president – Recep Tayyip Erdogan – has been in power since 2014. Before that, he served three terms as prime minister. But the country has been in a state of emergency since 2016, when there was a failed coup against him. Last year, he inched out a W to change the country's constitution after the next elections.
Tell me about the change.
It gets rid of the PM position. And gives the prez allll the power to do things like appointing the cabinet and VPs as well as judges. Emphasis on power. Earlier this year, Erdogan moved up the elections to get ahead of some of the economic problems the country is facing.
Wait, economic problems?
Yup. Recently, inflation's been on the rise and its currency has dropped to a record low. Erdogan says he wants greater control over the economy and hinted he mayyy want to play with interest rates.
Who's on the ballot?
Erdogan, of course. But he's got some competition – many who promise to keep that PM job around. One has been running his campaign from prison after being arrested because of the coup.
Who's going to win?
Erdogan, probably. Online content and most of the media are reportedly pro-Erdogan, he's put critics in jail, and may have put some friendly faces on the election commission. But many think his power-grabbing antics might backfire. And could end up giving the opposition a majority in parliament. Or take the election to a run-off.
theSkimm
If Erdogan wins, he would become Turkey's most powerful leader since the country was established in 1923. He'd be in charge of parliament, the executive branch and the ruling party.
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