Leaked from AKP corridors: Erdoğan's re-election bid and early election plan revealed

Following the arrest of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer and the appointment of a trustee in his place, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel held a rally in Esenyurt and reiterated his call for an 'early election'.

While AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously pointed to 2028 in his statements, the AKP's election plan has now emerged.

The date the AKP is considering for the election has leaked from party corridors, as the party views the possibility of a constitutional amendment to allow Erdoğan to run again as unlikely.

NOT AN EARLY ELECTION, BUT A BROUGHT-FORWARD ELECTION

In the corridors of the AKP, it is being discussed that for Erdoğan to be a candidate again, it would not be possible through an early election, but rather through a decision to move the election date forward. The prevailing scenario involves a decision being made in 2027, with the election taking place in 2028.

If the presidential election is held on its scheduled date, it does not appear possible for Erdoğan to run again. However, it has been learned that if Parliament moves the presidential election date to a time before May 14, 2028, Erdoğan would be eligible to run.

'DECISION IN 2027, ELECTION AROUND MARCH 2028'

In AKP corridors, scenarios are being discussed where Turkey would not go to an early election, but rather to an election moved forward by a few months. Just like in the previous elections, Turkey will not go to the polls on time, nor will there be an early election.

During the 2023 elections, whether Erdoğan could run again was also debated. To put an end to these discussions, Erdoğan used his constitutional authority and made the election decision by dissolving Parliament. At that time, the government interpreted this not as an early election, but as an 'update'. Now, the same path is on the agenda to be attempted via a parliamentary decision.

It is alleged that Parliament is discussing scenarios for an election with a date moved forward, rather than an early election, similar to the previous cycle.

According to AKP sources, they are discussing scenarios where "Parliament decides in December 2027 that the presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in March instead of May 14. In that case, this would not be an early election, but an election with a date moved forward."