Turkey's president has built vast power over 20 years. But he may lose on Sunday

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/12/ [login to see] /turkey-elections-erdogan-kilicdaroglu
For the past two decades, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dominated his country's politics. He's been a key and contentious player on the world stage. And he's steadily tightened his grip on power in ways that have weakened the country's democracy.

Now his bid for another five-year term faces a stiff challenge, with voters going to the polls this Sunday.

Erdogan has lost support as his country is mired in an economic crisis and his government faces criticism for its slow response to the massive damage from earthquakes in February.

Polls show a tight race between Erdogan and his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu (pronounced KEH-lich-DAHR-OH-loo). Both are longtime politicians. But Erdogan, 69, is a combative — his supporters would say charismatic — populist. Kilicdaroglu, 74, offers a low-key style. He even records campaign videos from a kitchen table — a reminder of the poor economy and rising food prices.