Erdogan Could Run for Third Term in 2028 Election
Erdogan May Run for President Again in 2028, Adviser Says
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be eligible to run again in the 2028 presidential election under an exceptional provision of the country’s constitution.
This was stated by the president’s chief adviser and deputy head of the Presidential Legal Policy Council, Mehmet Ucum.
📅 Possible election date shift
According to Ucum, the next scheduled presidential and parliamentary elections should be considered May 7, 2028, rather than May 14, as suggested by some analysts.
He also noted that discussions are ongoing about holding the vote earlier, on April 16, 2028. However, he emphasized that this would not be considered an early election in a political sense, but only a minor adjustment of the scheduled date.
The decision to shift the election date would be taken by parliament within the constitutional timeframe.
⚖️ Constitutional exception
Ucum explained that Türkiye’s constitution limits presidents to two consecutive terms, but includes an exception:
- If parliament calls early elections during the president’s second term
- The sitting president becomes eligible to run for a third term
Under this provision, Erdogan could legally be nominated again if such a decision is made.
📌 Official position
The adviser urged the public to correctly interpret a possible date shift and not to view it as political manipulation.
He also noted that adjusting election dates by a few weeks has precedent in Türkiye and does not constitute an early election.
“Elections are expected to take place in 2028 as scheduled, but may be moved slightly earlier,” Ucum said.
The upcoming election could therefore play a key role in shaping the future political landscape of Türkiye and President Erdogan’s potential continued leadership.
