Turkey's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, set for May 14th, will determine the country's leadership, economic direction and role in the Middle East and Ukraine. President Erdogan, in power for 20 years, faces stiff competition from opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People's Party, who promises to reverse many of Erdogan's policies, including religious piety, military-backed diplomacy, and low interest rates.

The opposition, including the secularist Republican People's Party and centre-right nationalist IYI Party, has formed an alliance aiming to appeal to voters from across the political spectrum. They would dismantle Erdogan's executive presidency, restore independence to the central bank and reverse his unorthodox economic policies.

While Erdogan has expanded Turkey's military power in the Middle East, including incursions into Syria, military support to Libya and Azerbaijan, and a confrontation with Greece and Cyprus over eastern Mediterranean maritime boundaries, the opposition has promised to seek rapprochement with some of Turkey's rivals. Analysts suggest that the election will be a tight race, with the emergence of a united opposition providing a significant challenge for Erdogan.