Mohammed Uçum, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, predicted that the president would run for another term if parliament approved an early election, suggesting that voters would go to the polls on April 16, 2028, ahead of the regularly scheduled election that year.
Uçum sets election date and Erdogan’s candidacy
Uçum said during a meeting with newspaper representatives in Ankara on Thursday, September 17, 2026, that the election would be held on that date if 360 lawmakers backed a decision to renew it, adding that Erdogan would run for the final time. The presidential adviser said his choice of April 16 was linked to the anniversary of the referendum that approved the transition to Turkey’s presidential system, saying the date carried symbolic significance.
The constitution also allows the president to run for one additional term if parliament decides to renew the elections during his second term. Thus, implementation of the scenario outlined by Uçum remains conditional on a parliamentary decision and the setting of a polling date in accordance with constitutional procedures.
