Hold onto your hats, folks—Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just dropped a political bombshell that’s got everyone from Ankara to Washington buzzing.
Breitbart reported that on Thursday, while returning from a quick trip to Hungary, Erdogan declared he has no desire to run for another term, a statement that’s raising eyebrows given his decades-long grip on power. Is this a genuine exit strategy or a clever feint?
Let’s break it down: Erdogan, Turkey’s Islamist leader, announced his disinterest in re-election while pushing for a new constitution, a move that’s stirring concerns about potential power grabs amidst a backdrop of suppressed dissent and questionable democratic practices.
Since 2003, Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) have been the dominant force in Turkish politics, starting with his role as prime minister.
By 2014, he transitioned to president under a newly minted presidential system with direct elections. That’s over two decades of influence—quite the resume for any leader.
But let’s not pretend it’s all been smooth sailing. The 2018 and 2023 presidential elections were slammed by international observers as neither free nor fair, marred by violence against opposition supporters and arrests of key candidates. Turns out, silencing critics isn’t exactly a winning democratic strategy.
Take Selahattin Demirtaş, leader of the former People’s Democratic Party, who has been behind bars for seven years on charges tied to Kurdish separatist groups.
Then there’s Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a rising star in the secularist Republican People’s Party (CHP), arrested in March 2025 on alleged corruption charges. Sounds like a convenient way to sideline a threat, doesn’t it?
Imamoğlu’s arrest wasn’t taken lightly—over 1,000 protesters were detained in March 2025 for speaking out against it. This comes after İmamoğlu is elected Istanbul mayor in April 2024, a stinging defeat for Erdogan’s AKP. The opposition isn’t rolling over without a fight.
Now, back to Erdogan’s latest remarks—he’s 71 years old and insists he’s done with presidential runs. “I have no interest,” he said, as reported by The National, brushing off any ambition for the 2028 election. But forgive the skepticism when a leader with a history of power consolidation suddenly plays the humble card.
Erdogan doubled down, saying, “We want the new constitution not for ourselves but for our country.” Fine words, but when you’ve got a track record of clamping down on dissent, it’s hard not to wonder if this constitutional rewrite is less about democracy and more about cementing legacy. Call it a gut feeling, but history tends to repeat itself.
He even criticized the current constitution, claiming, “Turkey cannot walk towards the future with a constitution written by coup plotters.”
Fair point—Turkey’s existing framework does stem from a 1980 military coup—but the devil’s always in the details of who gets to write the new rules. Will it be a genuine civilian effort, or another tool for control?
Erdogan didn’t stop there, urging opposition parties to join hands in drafting this new constitution. “Let’s set our commissions and rewrite a civilian constitution,” he appealed, as quoted by Hurriyet. A noble sentiment, but given past crackdowns, one wonders if this is an olive branch or a trap.
Turkey’s geopolitical clout adds another layer to this drama—it’s a rising power, trusted by both sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and a vocal pro-Hamas player in the Israel-Hamas tensions. Any shift in its internal politics could ripple far beyond its borders. Stability, or the lack thereof, matters on the world stage.
Meanwhile, Erdogan hinted at a potential trip to the United States to meet President Donald Trump, noting, “I may have a visit to America.”
Having spoken with Trump in early May 2025, he seems eager to strengthen ties, praising their mutual respect. It’s a reminder that Turkey’s moves aren’t just domestic—they’re global chess plays.
The CHP, İmamoğlu’s party, narrowly lost to Erdogan in 2023, showing they’re a credible threat. If Erdogan truly steps back, the political landscape could shift dramatically. But only time will tell if this is a real retreat or just political theater.