SPECIAL REPORT: Turkish Elections: 2023 Elections Scenarios Brief

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is running for re-election under the People’s Alliance coalition. He claims that constitutional changes in 2017 have allowed him to run for a third term. Turkey's largest opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), and the associated Nation Alliance coalition (also known as the 'Table of Six') put forward Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as their presidential candidate. Kılıçdaroğlu is viewed as Erdoğan's biggest rival; he is likely supported by the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), which will increase the possibility of Erdoğan’s removal from power. However, heavily contested elections, as well as Turkey's complicated socio-political framework, will raise the likelihood of a split presidency and parliament, as well as attempts to spoil the results.