After retaining the presidency. Will Erdogan lead Turkey to a renaissance or is he hampered by its growing challenges?

The two guests of the "Opposite Direction" program differed on the ability of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after his success in maintaining the presidency and winning the recent run-off round, to address the challenges and crises facing Turkey at various levels.

The episode (2023/5/30) of the program "The Opposite Direction" wondered whether Erdogan's victory paves the way for a real renaissance and a bright future for Turkey, or if he will not be able to overcome the worsening economic crisis and the increasing political challenges facing the country.

The editor-in-chief of the Turkish News Agency, Hamza Tekin, said that President Erdogan will seek to maintain that Turkey remains in the ranks of large countries with regional influence, and that during the next five years it will become politically stronger than the Ottoman Empire was, and will occupy an advanced position in the new world order that has begun to form.

He considered the succession of blessings received from the leaders of countries in the world to Erdogan for his victory in the elections, despite the wide campaign he faced during it, evidence of the size of Turkey's influence and that it is at the forefront, and enjoys global attention, pointing out that Greece witnessed elections simultaneously and did not receive the same amount of attention and follow-up.

Big challenges

He acknowledged that Erdogan will face during his new presidential term great and serious challenges, internal and external, stressing at the same time his ability to address and overcome them, and maintain his country's survival at the top, as he put it.

In this context, he pointed to the manifestations of popular joy and joy witnessed by many Arab countries with Erdogan's victory, considering this evidence that this victory does not only concern Turkey and its people, but also Arabs and Muslims who see it as a "strong leadership" that they aspire to in their country.

Tekin believes that Turkey is heading for more strength during the next five years in many regional and international files, foremost of which is its role in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, adding that it will rank sixth or seventh among the top countries in the new world order.

He stressed that Turkey's tendency to repair its relationship with many regimes that were at odds with it in the past came after the failure of those regimes in efforts to overthrow Erdogan, and upon its return it found the door open, stressing in this context that the relationship with Israel is based on peers and does not conflict with Ankara's support for the Palestinian cause.

He denied that Erdogan had abandoned the slogan of "migrants and supporters" in the relationship with Syrian refugees, stressing that he paid a large political tax for adhering to this slogan, and that he will not accept a solution to the Syrian crisis that does not include securing refugees and ensuring their interests and safety.

Deep split

On the other hand, political analyst Dr. Muhammad Bakr believes that Turkey is on the verge of a major and dangerous transformation, and that Erdogan's success has established major divisions that will have serious repercussions at various levels, and that there will be no stability in the country during Erdogan's new presidential term.

He considered – in his speech to the program of the opposite direction – that the jubilation and popular joy that appeared in many Arab and Islamic countries is the result of emotional influence by positions that Erdogan excels in showing, but what Turkey will witness in reality will be different from what those peoples think and expect.

He believes that the challenges that Turkey will face are greater than its capabilities, and they are the result of wrong and disastrous policies pursued by Erdogan in the past period, and he will not be able to address them, nor will he succeed in achieving his huge promises, which it is known that the fulfillment will not be within his reach.

Bakr considers Erdogan's policy based on contradictions, as he talks about zeroing problems with neighboring countries, their number is almost exploding - as he put it - on all fronts, which has necessitated follow-up and attention by countries and their media, not because of his capabilities and potential, as promoted by his supporters.

He stresses in his speech that Turkey will not be able to "get out of the American cloak and the mantle of NATO," downplaying in this context the significance of Ankara's position, which caused Sweden to be prevented from joining NATO.