Erdogan to run for third term under Turkish constitutional loophole
Turkey has a two-term limit, however, an incumbent president may run for a third term if approved by the Turkish parliament
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will run for a third term in Turkey's next elections, according to a senior adviser to Erdogan said on Thursday.
Turkey has a two-term limit, like many other presidential republics. However, under Article 116 of the Turkish Constitution an incumbent president may run for a third term if the Turkish parliament approves early elections, which requires a three-fifths majority vote (360 of 600 lawmakers) in parliament.
Turkey's next presidential election is scheduled for May 14, 2028, with lawmakers aiming to bring it forward to April 16, 2028.
Chief Presidential Adviser Mehmet Ucum said that the proposed date would fall on the anniversary of Turkey's 2017 referendum that approved the transition to a presidential system.
The ruling AK Party is more than 30 votes short of being able to bring forward the election even with the support of allied parties.
Erdogan has ruled Turkey since 2003, when he became prime minister. Erdogan left the premiership in 2014 to become president, a role that at the time was largely ceremonial.
In 2017, the Turkish parliament approved measures to transition to an executive presidency. Erdogan subsequently won the 2018 election and has remained president since then.