ASSESSMENTS
Turkey's Economic Woes Dog the Government Ahead of Polls
Feb 18, 2019 | 10:00 GMT

People line up to buy subsidized vegetables at a tent set up by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality in the Cankaya district of the Turkish capital on Feb. 13. Turkey's economy, as well as its Kurdish issue, are likely to be hot topics ahead of municipal elections on March 31.
(ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Highlights
- Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is well-positioned to win the highest number of votes in local elections on March 31.
- However, the opposition could temper the AKP's victory if it can capitalize on voters' economic anxieties to pick up key AKP-held municipalities like Istanbul.
- The AKP is likely to continue its campaign of intimidation against the main pro-Kurdish party in line with its desire for a military solution to the ongoing Kurdish issue.
- If support for the AKP dips in the election, the party could pursue a harder line against its perceived enemies.
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