Key dates in the career of Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Key dates in the career of Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan
FILE - Mayor of Istanbul Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds the book called “Turk and being Turkish” as his Ankara counterpart and strongest supporter Melih Gokcek sits next to him during a press conference in Istanbul, Wednesday, April 22, 1998. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer, File)
FILE - Recep Tayyip Erdogan, mayor of Istanbul, waves to his supporters after a press conference in Istanbul, Thursday, September 24, 1998. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer, File)
FILE - President Bush straightens his jacket as he prepares to talk with reporters after meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, in the Oval Office, Washington. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
FILE. - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second left, and his wife Emine Erdogan, are welcomed by a polling station official before they cast their votes in the local elections at a primary school in Ankara on Sunday, March 28, 2004. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)
FILE - Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Christian Lutz, File)
FILE - Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, shakes hands with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Ash-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, April 26, 2008. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi, File)
FILE - Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey, left, talks to Shimon Peres, President of Israel, right, during a plenary session during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (Alessandro Della Bella/Keystone via AP, File)
FILE - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, front-center, Gen. Necdet Ozel, Turkey’s new Land Forces Commander and acting Chief of Staff, front-left, and top army generals follow a guard of honour at the mausoleum of modern Turkey’s founder Kemak Ataturk, after the military’s annual meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 1, 2011. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Kadir Topbas, second right, help to lift the flag draped coffin of an explosion victim during a funeral ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, July 28, 2008. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta, File)
FILE - U.S President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 10, 2017. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File)
FILE - Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the mausoleum of the nation’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during a ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of his death, in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Unal, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Turkish Presidency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, takes Vezir Cakras by hand while speaking on his mobile phone inside his car stationed over the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul, Friday, Dec. 25, 2015. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (Yasin Bulbul/Turkish Presidency via AP Photo, File)
FILE - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second right, and some of candidates of his Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party salute supporters during a an election rally in Ankara, Saturday, July 14, 2007. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)
FILE - Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the city center destroyed by Monday earthquake in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (Turkish Presidency via AP, File)
FILE - Mayor of Istanbul Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds the book called “Turk and being Turkish” as his Ankara counterpart and strongest supporter Melih Gokcek sits next to him during a press conference in Istanbul, Wednesday, April 22, 1998. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer, File)
FILE - Mayor of Istanbul Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds the book called “Turk and being Turkish” as his Ankara counterpart and strongest supporter Melih Gokcek sits next to him during a press conference in Istanbul, Wednesday, April 22, 1998. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer, File)
FILE - Recep Tayyip Erdogan, mayor of Istanbul, waves to his supporters after a press conference in Istanbul, Thursday, September 24, 1998. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer, File)
FILE - Recep Tayyip Erdogan, mayor of Istanbul, waves to his supporters after a press conference in Istanbul, Thursday, September 24, 1998. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer, File)
FILE - President Bush straightens his jacket as he prepares to talk with reporters after meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, in the Oval Office, Washington. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
FILE - President Bush straightens his jacket as he prepares to talk with reporters after meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, in the Oval Office, Washington. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
FILE. - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second left, and his wife Emine Erdogan, are welcomed by a polling station official before they cast their votes in the local elections at a primary school in Ankara on Sunday, March 28, 2004. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)
FILE. - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second left, and his wife Emine Erdogan, are welcomed by a polling station official before they cast their votes in the local elections at a primary school in Ankara on Sunday, March 28, 2004. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)
FILE - Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Christian Lutz, File)
FILE - Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Christian Lutz, File)
FILE - Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, shakes hands with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Ash-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, April 26, 2008. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi, File)
FILE - Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, shakes hands with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Ash-Shaeb presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, April 26, 2008. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi, File)
FILE - Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey, left, talks to Shimon Peres, President of Israel, right, during a plenary session during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (Alessandro Della Bella/Keystone via AP, File)
FILE - Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey, left, talks to Shimon Peres, President of Israel, right, during a plenary session during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (Alessandro Della Bella/Keystone via AP, File)
FILE - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, front-center, Gen. Necdet Ozel, Turkey’s new Land Forces Commander and acting Chief of Staff, front-left, and top army generals follow a guard of honour at the mausoleum of modern Turkey’s founder Kemak Ataturk, after the military’s annual meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 1, 2011. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, front-center, Gen. Necdet Ozel, Turkey’s new Land Forces Commander and acting Chief of Staff, front-left, and top army generals follow a guard of honour at the mausoleum of modern Turkey’s founder Kemak Ataturk, after the military’s annual meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Aug. 1, 2011. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Kadir Topbas, second right, help to lift the flag draped coffin of an explosion victim during a funeral ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, July 28, 2008. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta, File)
FILE - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Kadir Topbas, second right, help to lift the flag draped coffin of an explosion victim during a funeral ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, July 28, 2008. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta, File)
FILE - U.S President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
FILE - U.S President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Antalya, Turkey, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 10, 2017. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File)
FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 10, 2017. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File)
FILE - Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the mausoleum of the nation’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during a ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of his death, in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Unal, File)
FILE - Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the mausoleum of the nation’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during a ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of his death, in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Unal, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Turkish Presidency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, takes Vezir Cakras by hand while speaking on his mobile phone inside his car stationed over the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul, Friday, Dec. 25, 2015. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (Yasin Bulbul/Turkish Presidency via AP Photo, File)
FILE - In this photo released by the Turkish Presidency, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, takes Vezir Cakras by hand while speaking on his mobile phone inside his car stationed over the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul, Friday, Dec. 25, 2015. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (Yasin Bulbul/Turkish Presidency via AP Photo, File)
FILE - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second right, and some of candidates of his Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party salute supporters during a an election rally in Ankara, Saturday, July 14, 2007. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)
FILE - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second right, and some of candidates of his Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party salute supporters during a an election rally in Ankara, Saturday, July 14, 2007. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)
FILE - Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the city center destroyed by Monday earthquake in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (Turkish Presidency via AP, File)
FILE - Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the city center destroyed by Monday earthquake in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Erdogan, who marked 20 years in power this year, is seeking a third consecutive term in office as Turkey’s president in elections on May 14, 2023. (Turkish Presidency via AP, File)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who earlier this year marked 20 years in power — first as prime minister and later as president — is seeking a third consecutive presidential term in elections on May 14.
The 69-year-old started as a reformist who expanded rights and freedoms, allowing his majority-Muslim country to start European Union membership negotiations.
He later reversed course, cracking down on dissent, stifling the media and passing measures that eroded democracy.
The presidential and parliamentary elections could be Erdogan’s most challenging yet. They will be held amid economic turmoil and high inflation, just three months after a devastating earthquake.
Here’s a look at some of the key dates in Erdogan’s rule:
— March 27, 1994: Erdogan is elected mayor of Istanbul, running on the pro-Islamic Welfare Party ticket.
— Dec. 12, 1997: Erdogan is convicted of “inciting hatred” for reading a poem that the courts say violated secular laws. He is sentenced to four months in prison.
— Aug. 14, 2001: Erdogan, having broken away from the Welfare Party with other members of its reformist wing, forms the conservative Justice and Development Party, or AKP.
— Nov. 3, 2002: A year after it is founded, AKP wins a parliamentary majority in general elections. Erdogan however, is barred from running due to his conviction.
— March 9, 2003: Erdogan is elected to parliament in a special election after his political ban is lifted. He replaces his AKP colleague as prime minister five days later.
— Oct. 3, 2005: Turkey begins accession talks with the European Union.
— July 22, 2007: Erdogan wins 46.6% of the votes in general elections.
— October 20, 2008: The first of a series of trials against military officers and other public figures begins. The suspects are accused of plotting to overthrow the government, in what turn out to be sham trials designed to eliminate Erdogan’s opponents. The trials were later blamed on the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
— Sept. 12, 2010: Erdogan wins a referendum on constitutional changes that allow the government to appoint high court judges, curb the powers of the military and ensure presidents are elected by a national vote rather than by parliament.
— June 12, 2011: Erdogan wins general elections with 49.8% of the vote.
— May 28, 2013: Nationwide anti-government protests erupt over plans to cut down trees at an Istanbul park. The government is accused of using excessive force against protesters.
— Aug. 10, 2014: Erdogan wins Turkey’s first presidential election held by direct popular vote.
— June 7, 2015: The AKP loses its majority in parliamentary elections. It regains a majority in re-run elections in November, following months of insecurity, including suicide bombings.
— July 15, 2016: Erdogan’s government survives a military coup attempt blamed on followers of Gulen, a former ally. The government then embarks on a large-scale crackdown on members of Gulen’s network.
— April 16, 2017: Voters in a referendum narrowly approve switching the country’s political system from a parliamentary democracy to an executive presidential system. Critics call it “one-man rule” by Erdogan.
— June 24, 2018: Erdogan wins presidential elections with 52.59% of the vote, becoming Turkey’s first president with executive powers.
— June 22, 2019: In a major blow to the AKP, Erdogan’s party loses a re-run election for Istanbul mayor, having contested March elections that the main opposition party’s candidate had also narrowly won.
— Feb. 6, 2023: A powerful earthquake devastates parts of Turkey and Syria, killing more than 50,000 people in Turkey. Erdogan’s government is criticized for its poor response to the disaster. ___ Associated Press writer Zeynep Bilginsoy contributed from Istanbul.