A human wave, the Turkish national flag and a ferocity admired by his supporters. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is more combative than ever. But on stage, he knows he can lose this time to the all-powerful head of state. Despite appearances, he is weak. For 20 years, Erdogan built, he modernized his country. In his meetings, his best asset is video extolling his achievements. And as a symbol of this new Turkey, Erdogan is building a thousand-room palace fit for a sultan.

20 years of rule with an iron fist

But today the country is far from prosperous. Economic crisis, 100% inflation. Erdogan has also been weakened by an earthquake last February that killed 55,000 people. In these regions, anger is building against the presidential candidate. In 20 years, Recep Tayyip Erdogan re-Islamized Turkey. His pride: the converted mosque of Hagia Sophia in the center of Istanbul. But Islamization has divided society. Erdogan, or 20 years of power with an iron fist. In 2016, when a coup nearly toppled him, he vowed live on television to punish the plotters. It is a period of purification. But Erdogan has not had the last word and, win or lose on Sunday, it would be wrong to underestimate a man who has made his mark on Turkey.