What's happening?

Recep Tayyip ErdoganThe president of Turkey. has won a new term as president of TurkeyOfficially the Republic of Turkiye, a country that lies partly in Europe and partly in Asia at the east of the Mediterranean. . 

Erdogan won the second round of voting. He scored 52% of the vote. The man he beat, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, said the result was unfair.

Many expertsSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject. agree with him. They think that Erdogan has used his power to make democracyA system of government based on the idea of rule by the people. in Turkey weaker. Some worry that he could become a dictatorA ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force. .

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He controls what the media can say, bullies anyone who runs against him and buys friends with power.

But others say that Erdogan is not a dictator. He held an electionA vote in which someone is chosen to represent a group of people. and won.

Dictators rule by fear. But there are many leaders worldwide who make themselves popular by encouraging people to hate people of other religions or races. And they give themselves lots of power.

Yes! Erdogan has given himself a lot of power. No other person stands a chance of beating him in a vote.

No! Turkish people simply think Erdogan is the best person to run the country. They are allowed to vote for whoever they want to - and they want Erdogan.