Erdogan to consider lifting state of emergency after Turkey elections

Turkey's state of emergency, in place since a failed coup attempt two years ago, could possibly be lifted following elections this month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Thursday.

"After the elections, we will discuss the state of emergency in detail and there could be the question of lifting it," said Erdogan in a televised interview broadcast.

The Turkish leader has previously insisted that the emergency measures in place are necessary, and will not be lifted until the terrorist threat is completely eliminated from the country.

More than 2,000 suspected Turkish coup sympathisers have been arrested in a government clampdown, following the attempted overthrow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government in 2016, a minister said this week.

Thousands of soldiers, police officers and civil servants have been jailed since 2016, allegedly linked to exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen who has been blamed by Ankara for the coup attempt.

Tens of thousands more people have been sacked.

Turkey introduced a state of emergency five days after the coup bid, which was renewed for a seventh time last month despite Ankara's Western allies calling for it to end.

Turkey's opposition has accused Erdogan of using the state of emergency to silence critics.

The Turkish presidential elections are set to take place June 24, with incumbent Erdogan the favourite to win.

His victory will see the introduction of new laws that increase his presidential powers, a move many see as a consolidation of his authoritarian regime.

Analysts suggest that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) could lose its overall majority to an opposition alliance and Erdogan might not win the first round vote outright.