Erdogan

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, born 26 February 1954 in Istanbul, is a Turkish politician who has served as President of Turkey since 2014. He previously served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2014 and is the founder and longtime leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), established in 2001. Erdoğan began his national profile as mayor of Istanbul (1994–1998), where his municipal programs helped raise his political standing.

Entering national politics after the AKP’s rise to power, he led the country through a period of economic growth and social reform, while consolidating power in the executive and party structures. In 2014 he was elected president, and after a 2017 referendum that redirected Turkey to a presidential system, he became the first president under the new constitutional framework. He was re-elected in 2018 and again in 2023.

His domestic tenure has been marked by ongoing economic challenges such as inflation and currency volatility, as well as controversies over civil liberties, media freedom, and opposition crackdowns following the 2016 coup attempt. Supporters credit his leadership with stability and infrastructural development, while critics highlight centralization of authority and constraints on dissent.

In foreign affairs, Erdoğan has pursued an active and at times transactional policy in the Middle East, notably in Syria and Libya, while maintaining Turkey’s membership in NATO and managing relations with the European Union and the United States. He has also pursued closer ties with Russia on security and energy issues.

Erdoğan is married to Emine Erdoğan and they have four children. His leadership has been a defining factor in Turkish politics for over two decades, shaping economic, legal, and foreign policy directions amid ongoing domestic and international debate.