A decade after a faction of the Turkish military attempted to overthrow the government, the failed coup of July 15, 2016, continues to define Turkey's political landscape. Tanks blocked bridges and fighter jets bombed parliament in Ankara before President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, via a televised appeal, urged citizens onto the streets. The uprising collapsed within hours, leaving 253 dead, mostly civilians.
The aftermath brought sweeping change. A state of emergency enabled the dismissal of more than 125,000 public servants, and hundreds of thousands faced prosecution over alleged links to cleric Fethullah Gulen, who died in the United States in 2024. A 2017 constitutional referendum abolished the premiership, replacing the parliamentary system with an executive presidency.
Political tensions persist. Opposition victories in Istanbul and Ankara in successive local elections signalled public discontent, while Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu faces criminal prosecution on terrorism-related charges. Turkey has slipped to 163rd in global press freedom rankings, underscoring the coup's enduring shadow over democratic institutions.