Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gürlek on Friday hinted at a possible additional term in office for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has led the country since 2003.
Speaking at a provincial meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Adana, southern Turkey, Gürlek said an election would be held in 2028 to “re-elect our president.”
He did not name Erdoğan, who under normal circumstances would not be permitted to run as a presidential candidate again in a regular election.
A day earlier, Erdoğan’s adviser Mehmet Uçum stated that he would run “one last time” in the next presidential vote.
Early elections or constitutional amendment
The next presidential election in Turkey is scheduled to take place in May 2028. According to the current constitution, Erdoğan could only run again if parliament calls for early elections beforehand or if the constitution is amended.
Erdoğan has been in power for more than 23 years, having initially served as prime minister before being elected president for the first time in 2014.
Since the introduction of a presidential system in 2018, he has held sweeping powers – including significant influence over the appointment of judges and prosecutors.
Writing on X in response to the comments, opposition politician and deposed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been imprisoned since March 2025, demanded immediate elections.
İmamoğlu was long considered a promising rival candidate for a presidential election. A court recently placed a political ban on him – though the ruling is not yet legally binding.
İmamoğlu and his newly formed Yeni Party view the numerous court proceedings against him and other opposition politicians as targeted measures by the government to eliminate competition.
The government strictly rejects these accusations and maintains the independence of the judiciary.