Turkey is preparing to cast its vote for the presidential and parliamentary elections that for many observers would be at high risk for a series of considerations. They could consolidate the power of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or limit his broad political ambitions.
Erdogan, in a controversial referendum last year, has approved a new presidential system with more executive powers.
In this way Erdogan would aim for re-election for a new five-year term with increased powers that, he says, will bring prosperity and stability to Turkey, especially after a failed coup attempt in 2016 that left the country under a state of permanent emergency.
Erdogan, in power since 2003, now faces a stronger and more united opposition. Opposition candidates have vowed to return Turkey to a parliamentary democracy with heavy checks and balances, denouncing what they call Erdogan's "one man government".
Five candidates race against Erdogan in the presidential race. Although Erdogan is seen as the front-runner, he must secure more than 50% of the vote for a true and credible victory. If this threshold is not reached, the ballot could take place on July 8 between the two main contenders.
Erdogan's main challenger is 54-year-old former physics teacher Muharrem Ince, who is backed by the main center-left opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP. Ince wooed the crowd with an unexpectedly engaging election campaign and its demonstrations in the three major Turkish cities of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir attracted large numbers of people.
Erdogan also has his own purebred horse, 61-year-old former interior minister, Meral Aksener. The only female presidential candidate who broke away from Turkey's main nationalist party to give her support to Erdogan by forming the center-right nationalist party.
Selahattin Demirtas, the candidate of the pro-Kurdish Democratic People's Party, or HDP, was forced to conduct his electoral campaign from prison, where he is detained for alleged terrorism-related charges. Demirtas denies any wrongdoing by stating that his is a political detention.
Turkey will also elect 600 deputies to parliament, 50 more than the previous assembly. The constitutional changes allowed the parties to form alliances, paving the way for the coalition of the parties of Ince and Aksener to join a small Islamist party in the "Nation Alliance".
The pro-Kurdish HDP has been excluded from the alliance with Erdogan and must cross a 10% threshold to obtain seats in parliament. If it succeeds, it could cost Erdogan's AKP and his nationalist ally in the People's Alliance dozens of seats leading to him losing the parliamentary majority.
The coverage of the election campaign was biased in favor of Erdogan who directly or indirectly controls most of the Turkish media. Possible irregularities are also feared, so much so that the organization for security and cooperation in Europe is monitoring the elections with 350 observers.