President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on 18 April 2018 that Turkey would hold presidential and parliamentary elections on 24 June, bringing the vote forward from its scheduled date in November 2019.
The decision followed a meeting with Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahçeli, who had called for early elections. Erdoğan cited regional developments, including the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and the need to overcome political and economic uncertainty.
The vote carried exceptional constitutional importance. Reforms narrowly approved in the 2017 referendum were due to replace Turkey’s parliamentary system with an executive presidency after the election. Holding the contest early therefore accelerated the transition to a presidency with expanded powers.
Opposition parties faced the challenge of organising candidates and alliances on a compressed timetable while the country remained under a state of emergency. Analysts and election observers focused on media access, legal safeguards and whether the campaign environment would provide equal opportunities.
Parliament approved the early-election proposal two days later. The announcement reshaped Turkish politics immediately, moving parties into campaign mode and making the institutional future of the republic the central issue of the coming vote.
Sources
Zeynep Aziz is a social-affairs specialist, writer and advocate with advanced academic qualifications in both Social Sciences and International Relations. Her multidisciplinary education has given her a strong understanding of society, public policy, human rights and the political forces shaping Turkey’s domestic and international development.
For many years, Zeynep has been actively engaged in social affairs and initiatives supporting the rights and well-being of Turkish citizens. Her work pays particular attention to social equality, democratic participation and the protection of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
Women’s rights remain central to her interests and advocacy. She works to raise awareness of the challenges faced by women in Turkey, including discrimination, violence, unequal opportunities and barriers to full participation in political, professional and social life. She strongly supports women’s empowerment, equal access to education and employment, and effective legal protection for women and girls.
Alongside her social work, Zeynep closely follows Turkey’s international relations and foreign policy. She takes a keen interest in Turkey’s relations with Europe, neighbouring countries and international institutions, as well as the impact of regional and global developments on Turkish society.
Through her writing and public engagement, Zeynep seeks to encourage informed discussion, strengthen respect for human rights and contribute to a fairer, more democratic and inclusive Turkey.
Zeynep Aziz
