While the post-election balance of power has significantly increased the stakes for both the AKP and the opposition, Turkish politics has, at least for now, entered a period of détente and dialogue rather than a new spiral of political tension. But make no mistake, this is not a return to democracy and normalcy in Turkey.

ABD Dışişleri Bakanlığı'nın 2023 yılına ilişkin Türkiye İnsan Hakları Uygulamaları Raporunda öne çıkan hususlar

President Erdoğan's long-anticipated visit to Iraq unfolded on Monday, where he was warmly welcomed by Iraqi President of Republic Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Sudani in Baghdad. The visit culminated in the signing of 26 memoranda of understanding in various fields including energy, trade, water management, security cooperation, military training, and agriculture. Later on the same day, he also paid a visit to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil.

On April 17, 2024, the Dutch parliament made a significant decision concerning Turkey. It urged the Dutch government to condition negotiations aimed at modernizing the customs union agreement between Turkey and the European Union. This resolution was prompted by Turkey's failure to adhere to the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Osman Kavala, Selahattin Demirtaş and others.

Uluslararası Göç Örgütü verilerine göre 2014’ten bu yana Avrupa’ya ulaşmaya çabalarken yaşamını yitiren veya kaybolanların sayısı 29 bini geçmiş bulunuyor. Bu kayıpların ve Avrupa Birliği (AB)’nin 2015 yılında karşılaştığı göçmen krizinin bir neticesi olarak, AB’nin yeni iltica ve göç reformu düzenlemesi 2020 Eylül’de önerildi. Yasa paketinin Haziran 2024’te yapılacak AB Parlamento seçimlerinden evvel, Nisan 2024’te kabul edilmesi öngörülmektedir.

Erdogan at Crossroads Once More Turkey's local elections on March 31st surprisingly saved Turkey's opposition from obsolescence and restored its credibility, severely damaged after last year's disappointing presidential elections. For the first time in two decades, the AKP found itself in the second position in an election. Moreover, the CHP's re-elected mayor of Istanbul, Imamoğlu, proved his political skills as a charismatic leader capable of challenging President Erdoğan. Meanwhile, the AKP and its Islamist and nationalist allies have clearly lost votes, signaling discontent among Erdoğan's base. This new reality of Turkish politics leaves Erdoğan with two alternative paths: one that aims to save the economy and thus remove one of the root causes of discontent, or a more authoritarian one that seeks to curb dissent through more oppression. Both paths have their own risks and opportunities for Erdoğan.