The EU's Affection for Erdoğan Explained

Despite Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's increasingly authoritarian turn, his presence in power has allowed the EU to avoid the question of whether Turkey should join its ranks. A change in regime could alter that dynamic. The upcoming presidential election in Turkey, where Erdoğan is neck and neck with his centrist challenger Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, could breathe fresh air into the partnership between Turkey and the West. However, underlying issues such as Cyprus and the prospect of a large, relatively poor population joining the bloc will mean few in Europe will be racing to open the door to Turkey's EU membership.