He's been in power for 20 years, currently enjoys a winning streak of 12 elections and three referendums in a row and always knows how to stack the cards in his favour. Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan is back on the campaign trail, moving up by one month the date of presidential and legislative elections to May 14, while judges and prosecutors keep his most popular opponent busy in the courts. We ask about the calendar and the fate of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
We also ask whether the opposition can force a runoff. If it does, then all bets are off. Turkey is reeling from skyrocketing inflation, foreign investors are spooked by nepotism, and incumbent fatigue is real in a nation where the youngest voters have never known another leader. What is Erdogan's answer?
The Turkish president still has other cards up his sleeve: patching it up with Gulf state rivals whose pockets are deep, renewing ties with Syria with an eye to expelling refugees whom voters want out, and picking fights with NATO allies – to the delight of the right.
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Juliette Laurain and Imen Mellaz.
