Disaster-hit Turkey is due to stage a presidential vote in June. Erdoğan’s handling of the earthquake response – and his role in the country’s perceived lack of preparedness – may be his undoing.
Conviction means popular opposition figure Ekrem Imamoglu is barred from running for office. It comes as incumbent president Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces dwindling support.
The financial crisis provoked by the lira’s fall isn’t the true drama in Turkey. The real drama is a democratic transformation threatens the increasingly authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Quick measures by the central bank prevented a financial crisis, but investors are worried. Longer-term economic effects will depend on how long Erdogan’s purge goes on.