Impressive election comments from the European press: How will Turkish foreign policy proceed if Erdogan loses?

The elections to be held on May 14 in Turkey are closely watched by the international community.

The European press discussed the question of whether there will be a change in Turkish foreign policy if President Tayyip Erdogan loses his power for more than 20 years in the elections.

In the news on the EURACTIV website, which focuses on news from Europe, the assessments of the Czech ambassador in Ankara, Pavel Vacek, about the electoral process drew attention. Vacek commented that if the opposition in Turkey is victorious in the elections, it is not expected to experience major changes in Turkish foreign policy.

‘The opposition attaches importance to relations with the EU’

In special remarks to EURACTIV, the Czech ambassador said that the opposition promised to return to the parliamentary system from the presidential system, and that it also aims to improve relations with the EU.

“The opposition believes that their victory will be a major breakthrough in Turkey-EU relations,” Vacek said, but argued that a major change of direction in Turkish foreign policy should not be expected. “The opposition parties do not foresee a major transformation in the main external vectors of Turkish politics,” Vacek said, adding that “Turkey will not be much different. Large countries do not change in a year.

The Czech diplomat also noted that he did not expect any sudden changes from Turkey on the Russia-Ukraine war, the Cyprus issue and relations with Syria, adding: “Of course we are in contact with the opposition parties. There are some differences with the current government, but these are not at a very basic level,” he said.