Turkey's president has built vast power over 20 years. But he may lose on Sunday
NPRTurkey's president has built vast power over 20 years. But he may lose on Sunday Enlarge this image toggle caption Khalil Hamra/AP Khalil Hamra/AP ISTANBUL — For the past two decades, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dominated his country's politics. In speeches, Erdogan tries to scare people off Kilicdaroglu, alleging that he's controlled by Kurdish militants long at war with Turkish security forces. Erdogan's active foreign policy is at times contentious with the West From taking in millions of Syrian refugees to taking sides in civil wars in Libya and Syria, and siding with Azerbaijan against Armenia, Turkey has shown it has leverage in many of the world's hot spots in the last 20 years. He slowed Finland's admission into NATO — and is still blocking Sweden's — over claims those countries shelter Kurdish militants connected to militants in Turkey.