Gulay Icoz

Although I am currently immersed in the London local elections — speaking with residents, listening to concerns, and experiencing democracy at its most immediate level — I didn’t want to miss the chance to reflect on Hungary’s 12 April vote. I have analysed Hungarian politics for many years, and this election is among the most […]

A couple of weeks ago, Turkey held its second run-off for the presidential election, which resulted in Erdogan’s victory and the opposition’s defeat. This outcome was reminiscent of the night following the UK’s Brexit vote, where the margin was also close at 52:48. Several factors may have contributed to the opposition’s loss in the Turkish […]

On May 14th, Turkey will hold a critical vote that will determine the fate of its democracy. The incumbent president and leader of the Justice Development Party (AKP), Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is running against the opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who leads the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The campaign is intense, with Erdogan, who has been […]

Turkey has faced significant challenges in achieving democratic governance since the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Although Turkey transitioned to democracy in the 1920s, it has experienced setbacks, including recent declines in democracy and moves towards autocracy. Turkish political history differs from its neighbours and Western European countries in that there is a […]

Days away from the Hungarian Parliamentary Elections, Hungarian Civic Alliance (Fidesz) and United for Hungary, the opposition camps are fierce in their campaigns, particularly in the message they pass to the electorate via billboards. In this piece, I like to draw comparisons between the billboards used by Fidesz and the opposition political parties, highlight which […]