GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
Why Turkey's Opposition Shouldn't Underestimate Erdogan
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Apr 5, 2019 | 17:15 GMT
![Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan casts his ballot during municipal elections in Istanbul on March 31, 2019.](https://worldview.stratfor.com/sites/default/files/styles/2x1_full/public/erdogan-elections.jpg?itok=B-QhOOSR)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan casts his ballot during municipal elections in Istanbul on March 31. Losses in key cities eroded Erdogan's power base.
(BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Highlights
- Losing Ankara, apparently Istanbul and other large metropolitan centers in local elections is a major setback for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey's ruling party, as running these provincial governments is central to Erdogan maintaining his hold on power.
- Erdogan faces a tricky path as he navigates the political erosion in his base of power, and fixating on the election results threatens to detract from pressing problems, like Turkey's feeble economy.
- Even with the level of his support in question, Erdogan still has tremendous state resources at his disposal; though weakened, he remains formidable.
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