ZWF: Why Turkey's Elections are so important
Zander's Weekend Facts #66: Sunday, May 14, 2023
Inside this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, a breakdown of today’s elections in Turkey, and a look at what Zander’s been reading this past week. Plus, a compilation of the top headlines you need to know from the last seven days.
Also, go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast! Episode 104 features a breakdown of the debt ceiling crisis currently facing the U.S. government. Get the facts on what could happen if America defaults on its debt. Go download the Zander’s Facts podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Here are Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, May 14, 2023:
The biggest election of 2023: Turkey
The year before a presidential election in the United States is typically the most quiet on the electoral front not just nationally, but worldwide. However, 2023 has brought an election whose consequences will be felt around the world.
The most important election of the year takes place today… in Turkey.
On one ballot are all 600 seats of the Grand National Assembly, the sole body of the Turkish legislature. The other ballot will feature four names in the running for the position of president.
While four candidates are contesting this year’s election, it is believed that only two have a realistic chance of claiming victory. Those two are current Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Leader of the Main Opposition Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
Erdoğan, 69, has served as Turkey’s 12th president since 2014. Before that, he had been the country’s Prime Minister for 11 years. During his 20-year reign over the country, Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, have consolidated power. A failed coup attempt by members of the Turkish Armed Forces in 2016 accelerated Erdoğan’s transition of the presidential position from a mostly ceremonial one into a powerful executive.
In 2018, Turkey transitioned from a parliamentary democracy to a strong presidential system. The Prime Minister position was abolished and the President gained many new powers. Erdoğan has used these newfound abilities to arrest journalists and take control of independent news media, appoint allies to the nation’s courts and military, and be free of nearly all oversight.
Kılıçdaroğlu, 74, has served as the leader of the Republican People’s Party, CHP, since 2010. He has served in the Grand National Assembly since 2002 while being the Leader of the Main Opposition since 2010. Kılıçdaroğlu was able to unite a messy opposition just months before the election, creating the Nation Alliance of six opposition parties, with CHP being the largest. The alliance features parties of ideologies ranging from the right to the left, all focused on returning the country to a strengthened parliamentary system.
Despite Erdoğan’s power grabs, he has remained relatively popular in the country throughout most of his time in power. However, recent economic hardships, such as 40% inflation rates and the declining value of the lira currency, have put a damper on the latter portion of his five-year term. The response to the devastating February earthquakes that left over 50,000 dead, along with rising concerns over the loss of civil rights in the country, has left many to believe Erdoğan may be as vulnerable as he has ever been in his 20-year reign.
The Kılıçdaroğlu message of stopping the backslide of democracy in the country has resonated. Throughout his campaign, Kılıçdaroğlu has been known for delivering soft-spoken messages of hope and optimism, in contrast to the man he is attempting to replace. Kılıçdaroğlu and his allies hope that by combating a strong, authoritarian-like figure with a boring, old career politician whose strongest calls come for preserving democracy, they’ll emerge with a successful playbook. One that appears strikingly similar to the campaign successfully run in the United States by Joe Biden in 2020.
Of course, there is the question of whether Erdoğan concedes defeat if he is to fall. Polls in the country show a race that is neck-and-neck, with experts predicting both sides have a strong chance. Especially if the results show a slim opposition victory, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether Erdoğan will attempt to hold on to power as some worldwide autocratic leaders have attempted in the last few years, or whether he will step aside as has been custom since the country’s birth in the 1920s after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
As the eyes of the world descend on Anatolian Peninsula, the results of Turkey’s elections will not just be felt in the country of 85 million people, but also worldwide. In the 31-member NATO alliance, Turkey under Erdoğan has proven to be a zag to the West’s zig. The country, along with Hungary, was the main upholder of the admissions of Finland and Sweden, the latter of which still has not been fully admitted to the alliance. Kılıçdaroğlu has advocated for stronger relations with the European Union and a strengthened role in NATO.
Polls opened in the country at 8:00 am local time (1:00 am et) and will close at 5:00 pm local time (10:00 am et). The results of the anticipated 60 million+ votes are expected to begin being reported around midnight local time (5:00 pm et). If no candidate receives over 50% of the votes, a second round will be held between the top two candidates on May 28.
For more information on this week’s top story, here’s an article from Vox - Turkey’s extremely big-deal election, explained
What Zander’s been reading
In a big city, the subway can be the most efficient way to get around. And the environmental aspects of using public transportation are an added bonus. It turns out, however, that using the subway could actually pose a risk to your health. Find out more in this week’s featured article.
Check out this week’s featured article on WIRED - The Filthy Truth About Subway Air
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
Here are the top headlines from the sports world in the ZF Sporting Club:
NBA Playoffs: Just one spot remains in the Conference Finals round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. At 3:30 pm et later this afternoon on ABC, the #3 Philadelphia 76ers will visit the #2 Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the series. The winner will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, which begin on Wednesday at 8:30 pm et on TNT. The Heat won their series last round against the New York Knicks in six games. The Western Conference Finals, which begin Tuesday at 8:30 pm et on ESPN, are already set, with the #7 Los Angeles Lakers taking on the #1 Denver Nuggets. The Lakers took down the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in six games last round, while the Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns in five.
NHL Playoffs: While the Eastern Conference Final is set in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the two spots in the Western Conference Final are still up for grabs. In the East, the Florida Panthers will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the ECF after both teams won their Second Round series 4-1. The Panthers took down the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Hurricanes bested the New Jersey Devils. In the West, the Seattle Kraken and Dallas Stars are level in the Second Round series at 3-3, with Game 7 taking place Monday at 8:00 pm et on ESPN. In a battle for the other WCF spot, the Vegas Golden Knights lead the Edmonton Oilers in the series 3-2, with Game 6 taking place tonight at 10:00 pm et on ESPN. If the Oilers win, Game 7 would take place on Tuesday at 9:00 pm et on TNT.
NBA Coaching Carousel: Two coaches who led their teams to the NBA Playoffs this season have been fired over the last few weeks. Back on May 4, the Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after losing in the First Round of the Playoffs as the #1 overall seed. Budenholzer had been coach since 2018, coaching the franchise to its second NBA title in 2021. Out west, the Phoenix Suns fired head coach Monty Williams on Saturday after losing in the Conference Semifinals to the Denver Nuggets. Williams, who had coached the Suns since 2019, won the NBA Coach of the Year award in 2022 and took the Suns to the Finals in 2021.
UEFA Champions League: The two spots in next month’s UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul, Turkey will be clinched this week with the second legs of the semifinals taking place. On Tuesday, Inter Milan and AC Milan meet once again in the Derby della Madonnina with Inter ahead 2-0 on aggregate. On Wednesday, Manchester City will host Real Madrid with the two sides level at 1-1 on aggregate. Both matches will kick off at 3:00 pm et and air on CBS, Paramount+, and Univision.
Commanders Sale: After previously being reported, the sale of the NFL’s Washington Commanders was officially announced last week. Commanders owners Daniel and Tanya Snyder announced that they have reached an agreement with a group led by Josh Harris to sell the franchise for $6.05 billion. Harris is the owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils and was joined in the bid for the team by D.C.-area billionaire Mitchell Rales and basketball legend Magic Johnson. The NFL and other team owners will now look over the agreement and vote to approve the sale.
Rapid-fire Facts
These are top news headlines from the past week in rapid-fire fashion:
Trump Town Hall: Former President Donald Trump made his first appearance on a CNN-hosted event since 2016 on Wednesday, participating in a town hall. While moderator Kaitlin Collins attempted to fact-check Trump in real-time, the former President falsely claimed that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was rigged, that abortion advocates wanted to kill babies in the ninth month of pregnancy or after birth, and refused to answer whether he supported Russia or Ukraine in their ongoing war. The New Hampshire event took place just one day after a New York jury found that Trump was liable for defamation and sexual assault against E. Jean Carroll. Trump attacked Carroll at the town hall, calling her a “wack job” and saying her allegations were false.
George Santos: Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was indicted by federal prosecutors last week on 13 counts. Santos, known for repeatedly telling falsehoods about his life, has been accused of wire fraud, money fraud, theft of public funds, and making materially false statements to the House of Representatives. Santos turned himself in on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released on $500,000 bond. Santos has continued to say he will not resign and end his reelection campaign. If convicted, Santos could face up to 20 years in prison.
Title 42 Ends: Title 42, the pandemic-era policy which allowed the U.S. to turn away migrants at the Mexican border to prevent the spread of Covid-19, ended on Thursday. As the U.S. expected record numbers of border crossings in the days following Thursday, the Biden administration has instituted new policies at the border, including punishing those entering the U.S. illegally with potential criminal persecution, and limiting who can seek asylum. While reports from the border say crowds have been lighter than expected, U.S. Customs and Border Protection are asking those attempting to enter the country to use CBP One, a smartphone app.
New Airline Regulations: The Biden administration is preparing new regulations for how much compensation airlines would give customers if a flight is delayed or canceled. The regulations would make it mandatory for airlines to not just refund the original ticket, but also provide compensation for any food, lodging, transportation, rebooking fees, and cash miles/travel vouchers. The regulations would only affect flights that have been delayed or canceled because of the airline, not the weather or air traffic control issues. The Department of Transportation has begun the process of creating the regulations, which are expected to be rolled out later this year.
Pakistan Arrest: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested last week on charges of corruption and sedition. Khan, who was ousted after losing a confidence vote in parliament last year, is facing charges from several investigations, including not cooperating in a corruption investigation that alleges Khan received land as a bribe in exchange for political favors. As supporters of Khan flooded streets in the city protesting his arrest, Pakistan’s Supreme Court determined that Khan’s arrest by the National Accountability Bureau was unlawful on Thursday, with Khan being released on bail for two weeks on Friday.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episodes of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to the latest episode of the podcast, along with every episode of Zander’s Facts, wherever you get your podcasts.
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That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The facts in print return next Sunday, May 21, 2023.
