In the end, the transfer of the first parts of the Russian S-400 air defense systems to Turkey has begun as the Turkish government officially announced the shipment on July 12. The delivery of the systems has been publicized through separate statements of the Defense Ministry and Defense Industry Presidency.
Turkey marked on July 9 the first anniversary of the implementation of the executive-presidential model that replaced a 95-year-old parliamentary system.
In modern times, the independence of the central banks is seen as one of the prerequisites of a healthy economy to the extent it can control inflation and price stability. The reason behind the independent central bank is its ability to make monetary policies without short-term political concerns and thus to support durable growth.
Following weeks-long internal and tough negotiations, the leaders of European Union member states have reached an agreement on the five key positions to lead the Brussels-centered bloc in the next period.
A week after the Istanbul municipal election rerun, which handed a clear and unprecedented victory to the opposition’s candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu, all political parties have been continuing their assessments on the results.
Turkey will likely begin the delivery of the Russian S-400 air defense systems in the coming weeks, if not days, as announced by both Turkish and Russian officials. A group of Turkish military personnel had already been trained in Russia for the use of these systems and a Russian delegation had reportedly conducted on-site examinations in areas where these systems could be deployed. So, the Turkish-Russian side of the S-400 story is running in its own course without delays or major problems.
One thing is certain: Turkey’s six-year-long election period has ended with the Istanbul re-run polls. Suffering from “election fatigue,” it’s everybody’s expectation that a four-year election-free era has begun in Turkey. Still, many in the Turkish capital believe that it will be extremely difficult for the government to sustain until 2023 and that developments may lead to early presidential and parliamentary votes.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will embark on a week-long Japan-China tour on June 26, a few days after his Justice and Development Party (AKP) faced a major defeat in the do-over mayoral elections in Istanbul.
The result of the re-run elections in Istanbul was almost certain on the night of May 6, when the Supreme Election Council (YSK) canceled the March 31 election results, and therefore the victory of the oppositional candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu, upon the appeals of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
