With the recent re-election of President Erdogan, hopes were high that this positive momentum would continue.

But earlier this month, Ankara and Berlin ignited a new spat, after the closure of a German embassy school in Izmir over licensing issues.

Home to nearly 15 million people the decisions made here in Istanbul shape events in Turkey and its ties to the west. With its politically diverse neighborhoods and rugged landscape, Istanbul is a microcosm of Turkey itself. And elections results here will decide what direction the country takes.

Strait Talk host Ali Mustafa speaks to Hakki Ocal, columnist at the Daily Sabah and Mert Moral, assistant professor at Sabanci University

Nearly 5 percent of the Turkish electorate calls Europe home. But their participation in the voting process hasn’t always been smooth. Some parts of European society have questioned where their loyalties really lie, forcing many of these Turks to question their own identity.

Residents of the Kasimpasa neighbourhood in Istanbul say they have known Erdogan way before he became a popular leader. Regardless of the outcome of the elections, he will always be treated as family. Courtney Kealy reports

Strait Talk special edition show on Turkey's Elections.

Latest updates on Turkey elections

http://trt.world/election

5 facts about Recep Tayyip Erdogan

http://trt.world/knv9

5 facts about Muharrem Ince

http://trt.world/knvx

5 facts about Meral Aksener

http://trt.world/knvy

5 facts about Selahattin Demirtas

http://trt.world/knvh

5 facts about Temel Karamollaoglu

http://trt.world/knvk

5 facts about Dogu Perincek

http://trt.world/knv1

Turks living in Europe will be a crucial voting bloc in choosing Turkey’s next president. But, as Can Hasasu reports, the voting in Europe takes place at a time of concern over rising Islamophobia.

Latest updates on Turkey elections

http://trt.world/election

5 facts about Recep Tayyip Erdogan

http://trt.world/knv9

5 facts about Muharrem Ince

http://trt.world/knvx

5 facts about Meral Aksener

http://trt.world/knvy

5 facts about Selahattin Demirtas

http://trt.world/knvh

5 facts about Temel Karamollaoglu

http://trt.world/knvk

5 facts about Dogu Perincek

http://trt.world/knv1

Ravza Kavakci Kan drives her own campaign bus around town, looking to shore up her re-election.

Aadel Haleem hops into the passenger seat to see how AK Party’s vice-chair of human rights plans to cross the finish line in the lead.

Latest updates on Turkey elections

http://trt.world/election

5 facts about Recep Tayyip Erdogan

http://trt.world/knv9

5 facts about Muharrem Ince

http://trt.world/knvx

5 facts about Meral Aksener

http://trt.world/knvy

5 facts about Selahattin Demirtas

http://trt.world/knvh

5 facts about Temel Karamollaoglu

http://trt.world/knvk

5 facts about Dogu Perincek

http://trt.world/knv1

Strait Talk heads to Germany and the Netherlands where there's a signification population of Turks, who will be eligible to vote in the upcoming elections.

Latest updates on Turkey elections

http://trt.world/election

5 facts about Recep Tayyip Erdogan

http://trt.world/knv9

5 facts about Muharrem Ince

http://trt.world/knvx

5 facts about Meral Aksener

http://trt.world/knvy

5 facts about Selahattin Demirtas

http://trt.world/knvh

5 facts about Temel Karamollaoglu

http://trt.world/knvk

5 facts about Dogu Perincek

http://trt.world/knv1

In 2014, the mostly pro-Kurdish HDP, linked to the PKK, called for demonstrations in support of the Syrian city of Kobani. Mehmet Gokgoz's son was among those killed in the ensuing riots. Omer Kablan reports.

5 facts about Recep Tayyip Erdogan

http://trt.world/knv9

5 facts about Muharrem Ince

http://trt.world/knvx

5 facts about Meral Aksener

http://trt.world/knvy

5 facts about Selahattin Demirtas

http://trt.world/knvh

5 facts about Temel Karamollaoglu

http://trt.world/knvk

5 facts about Dogu Perincek

http://trt.world/knv1

Latest updates on Turkey elections

http://trt.world/election