Turkey’s opposition fragments ahead of March local elections

[Anthea]

New wave of arrests

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) on Sunday urged the Turkish political parties to stand against the new wave of arrests, calling the raids an “election plot” as the country prepares to head to the ballots in two weeks

“The operations in Diyarbakir against our party members of journalists, artists, and lawyers continue, yesterday in Ankara and today morning in Istanbul,” read a statement by the pro-Kurdish party, revealing that Sahin Tumuklu, the co-chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), has been arrested as well as a few parliamentary candidates of the Green Left Party.

ESP is one of the component parties of HDP operating in Turkey.

“These waves of arrests are plots against the will of the Turkish voters,” continued the statement, without adding how many people were detained.

HDP called on all the parties, oppositions, and the public, to stand against what it called a plot, saying that it was a matter related to everyone. “This is an operation to steal the will of people and the election ballot,” it added.

Sunday’s arrests are a continuation of a wave of arrests that started on Tuesday in the Kurdish city of Diyarbakir (Amed), as Turkish police arrested over 120 individuals, including senior HDP officials, for charges of alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Turkish police on Wednesday arrested a parliamentary candidate of the pro-Kurdish Green Left Party for alleged links to the PKK.

In response to the arrests, the pro-Kurdish Green Left Party released a statement condemning the raids and arrests, stressing that it will not be deterred by the operations.

On Friday, the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in a statement with 26 other human rights and civil society organizations, called on Turkish authorities to stop “systematic harassment and intimidation” of Kurdish journalists, media workers, media outlets, the lawyers that defend them, and Kurdish political party officials.

The Green Left Party is an umbrella under which the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) will participate in the May 2023 elections. HDP formed the party as a precautionary measure as they are facing a court case seeking to shut them down.

HDP has been accused for years of having ties with the PKK, an armed group struggling for Kurdish rights in Turkey, and named a terrorist organization by Ankara. HDP denies any links but says it respects the group’s jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan and has mediated between the Turkish government and the PKK in the past.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... y/30042023

[Anthea]

4.9 million first-time-voters

Making up seven percent of the total number of voters across Turkey, 4.9 million people who have just reached the age of 18 are eligible to cast a ballot in the country's upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections

All the political parties who race to receive the highest number of seats have their eyes set on the number of first-time voters.

The Green Left Party and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) are the two leading parties that have actively started attracting as many first-time voters as possible, mainly in the Kurdish regions of southeastern Turkey (Bakur).

Every party tries to attract the votes of these young people.

The Green Left party believes 75 percent of the first-time voters in the Kurdish regions, mainly Diyarbakir, will vote for them.

The Green Left Party is an umbrella under which the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) will participate in the May 2023 elections. HDP formed the party as a precautionary measure as they are facing a court case seeking to shut them down.

The Labour and Freedom Alliance, which includes the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), on Friday announced their support for opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu who is running to unseat incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in critical election.

Kilicdaroglu is the biggest challenger to face Erdogan who has been in power for two decades and oversaw transferring power from the parliament to the presidency.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... /300420231

[Anthea]

Special coverage of elections

Al Mayadeen begins its special coverage to follow up on Turkey's elections

An MP for the Justice and Development Party, Iffet Polat, told Al Mayadeen that her party's goal is to focus on winning these elections, adding that she was hopeful this goal would be achieved.

Presidential elections are scheduled to take place in Turkey on May 14, 2023. Voters will elect a new president for a term of five years.

During a special coverage that Al Mayadeen began Monday, Polat indicated that she is confident "the outcome of the presidential elections being decided in the first round in favor of the head of the Justice and Development Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan," adding that the AKP was able to achieve much for the people of Turkey.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent Omar Kayed explained that the electoral campaign battles in Turkey are neck and neck in Ankara, as it is a crucial region for several reasons. Firstly it is the capital and the seat of decision-making. Second, because it is the area with the second-largest number of parliamentary seats. And lastly, because the city has been in the grip of the AKP since the party's foundation.

Last Thursday, voting in the general elections for Parliamentary and Presidential opened to Turkish nationals abroad.

An opinion poll published by the American Al-Monitor website showed a statistical tie between Turkish President Rcep Tayyip Erdogan and his main opponent, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing the biggest challenge to his 20-year rule due to economic issues and the high cost of living, not to mention that victims of the earthquake are reconsidering where their loyalties lie after the disaster struck.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -elections

[Anthea]

Erdogan leading votes by 51%

Hurriyet states that "both of the candidates been on the rise in the past 10 days", indicating that expectations come from the fact that a second round is bound to take place

According to a poll conducted by the Optimar research center, and cited by the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took 51.4% of the votes, while his rival candidate of the opposition Kemal Kilicdaroglu, got 48.6%.

In the survey of 3,005 people, conducted from April 25 to 28, the participants were asked: "Which of the candidates will you vote for in the presidential elections?"

Even a poll conducted earlier last month by the Areda Survey Center showed that 50.8% were in favor of another term for Erdogan and 43.1% were in favor of Kilicdaroglu as president.

Hurriyet stated that "both of the candidates been on the rise in the past 10 days", indicating that expectations come from the fact that a second round is bound to take place.

Turkish researcher Sezin Öney told Al Mayadeen that the Turkish diaspora is mostly consisting of Erdogan's AKP party supporters, adding that the elections are proving to be a point of no return on an international level.

With other parties running against Erdogan and his policies but with not enough traction to get to his level, the Table of Six (Altinin Masa) was formed and Kilicdaroglu was elected as the representative of the total opposition. The coalition chairs the CHP; Meral Aksener of the IYI (Good) Party; Ali Babacan of the DEVA (Democracy and Progress) party, Temel Karamollaoglu of the SP (Felicity) party; Ahmet Davutoglu of the GP (Future) party; and Gultekin Uysal of the DP (Democrat) Party.

Two other independent parties are running alongside which are Sinan Ogan of the Nationalist Party (MHP) and Muharrem Ince of the Homeland Party (MP).

Al Mayadeen's correspondent to Ankara, Omar Kayed, reported that opinion polls in the nation, often do not count foreign votes and added that the polls are currently discussing how indecisive the first round is turning out to be - after voting for Turkish citizens outside the country began April 2 and will continue until the 9th of May.

If neither candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round, the election will continue to a runoff on May 28.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ainst-kili

[Anthea]

Turkish diaspora voting for Erdogan

If neither candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round, the election will continue to a runoff on May 28

The Turkish diaspora is mostly consisting of current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan AKP supporters, Sezin Öney, a Turkish researcher told Al Mayadeen, adding that the elections are proving to be a point of no return on an international level.

She said that defense and military firms also play a significant role but the economy is the main factor.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent to Ankara, Omar Kayed, reported that opinion polls in the nation, often do not count foreign votes and added that the polls are currently discussing how indecisive the first round is turning out to be - after voting for Turkish citizens outside the country began April 2 and will continue until the 9th of May.

At the border crossings, voting will go on until the evening of the 14th which is election day.

During a press conference at the Turkish Supreme Election Commission’s HQ in Ankara, the head of the country's High Election Board (YSK), Ahmet Yener, said that the total number of registered voters expected to partake in the May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections has amounted to a total of 64,113,941 votes; 60,697,843 are on Turkish mainland, and the rest are in the diaspora.

According to AP, contrasts between both candidates - Erdogan and CHP's Kemal Kilicdaroglu - prevail in their political rhetoric since "Erdogan is also a master campaigner who uses state resources and events to reach supporters while Kilicdaroglu talks to voters in videos recorded in his kitchen."

Erdogan has been in power since 2003, from prime minister to president, while Kilicdaroglu hasn't won a single election since taking over the CHP in 2010.

If neither receives more than 50% of the votes, the election will continue to a runoff on May 28.

With other parties running against Erdogan and his policies but with not enough traction to get to his level, the Table of Six was formed and Kilicdaroglu was elected as the representative of the total opposition. The coalition chairs the CHP; Meral Aksener of the IYI (Good) Party; Ali Babacan of the DEVA (Democracy and Progress) party, Temel Karamollaoglu of the SP (Felicity) party; Ahmet Davutoglu of the GP (Future) party; and Gultekin Uysal of the DP (Democrat) Party.

"Despite the political crises, the pandemic, and the earthquake, they [the AK Party] are leading the polls," said Prof. Dr. Emre Erdogan, political scientist and head of the International Relations Department at Istanbul Bilgi University, in an interview with Al Mayadeen English.

In a head-turning statement, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the United States and Europe have assigned the Turkish opposition to remove Erdogan from power.

"America and Europe gave them instructions to depose Tayyip Erdogan, to remove Tayyip Erdogan from office," The Star newspaper quoted him as saying.

"Why Tayyip Erdogan? Because America does not want him [at his current post], the West does not want him [to be the president of Turkey]. But it does not matter to us. We are following the will of our people," he added.

Oney to Al-Mayadeen: majority Turkish diaspora voting for Erdogan

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... xpert-to-a

Kemal Kilicdaroglu's CHP is a Kemalist party and Kemalists have killed hundreds of thousands of Kurds

[Anthea]

CHP and HDP alliance

Expert in International and Turkish relations, Mahmoud Allouch emphasizes that this year's Turkish Presidential elections will not be concluded in the first round; stressing that the alliance between the Kurdish People's Democratic Party and the Republican People's Party is dangerous and critical in terms of the current electoral dynamics

In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen English, expert in International and Turkish affairs, Mahmoud Allouch, delved into the Kurdish role in this year’s controversial Turkish presidential elections. Following the announcement of the Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) pledging its unwavering support for Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the political landscape witnessed a shift in the statistical outlook, shifting the electoral probabilities. The essence of the matter lies in the pivotal role of the Kurdish vote, the impact of HDP's actions on the political landscape, and the interplay between the Kurdish vote and regional Kurdish affairs.

Allouch emphasized the significance of the Kurdish electorate in the upcoming elections, asserting that the political climate concerning the Kurdish community constitutes a key variable that could make their vote decisive in determining the outcomes for both the governing and opposition coalitions. He added that the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party is the largest Kurdish party and supports the candidate CHP's leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the presidential elections, but noted that the party is running independently in the parliamentary elections.

He elaborated further that “it did not nominate a candidate for the presidential elections in order to support Kilicdaroglu, but it will run in the parliamentary elections, and the parliamentary elections are important for the party,” adding that the party must cross a 7% electoral threshold in order to be represented in parliament and predicted the party’s success in the matter.

In terms of statistics, he elaborated that the HDP makes up 10 to 12% of the votes, and is anticipated to hold significant weight in favor of either Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan or Kilicdaroglu in the upcoming presidential elections. Allouch clarified that Kilicdaroglu is relying on this voting bloc to secure his victory in the presidential elections during the first round, but “it is a challenging task to achieve a decisive outcome in the presidential elections during the initial round.”

Could Kilicdaroglu pay the price?

In the same context, he unveiled that in such a widely anticipated scenario, the alliance between Kilicdaroglu and the People's Democratic Party is dangerous and will entail many risks. He contended that due to this alliance, the Republican People's Party's nationwide vote will suffer a 3% downfall, alongside the Good Party's 5% votes. With that being said, he explained that according to opinion polls, the voting bloc that turned away from Kilicdaroglu within the "six-party alliance," in response to his alliance with the Democratic People's Party, has shifted their support towards Muharrem Ince. “I think that Kilicdaroglu balances the issue of alliance with with the People's Democratic Party from a numerical perspective, meaning that an alliance with the HDP will bring about 10-12% of Kurdish votes for Kilicdaroglu,” he added.

On the contrary, he emphasized that there is a price to be paid by Kilicdaroglu, namely the loss of nationalist votes. "Nevertheless, Kilicdaroglu's electoral strategy is predicated on the assumption that the 12% Kurdish vote approximates to 8% of nationalist votes, thereby giving him an additional 4% vote share." Thus, he believes that if Kilicdaroglu wins the presidential elections during the initial round, the alliance will prove beneficial for him.

However, if the elections proceed to the second round, which Allouch pointed out would critical, the HDP would demonstrate that its backing for Kilicdaroglu was inadequate to overpower Erdogan in the presidential race, raising questions about the Kurdish vote's potential to shift the electoral dynamics in favor of Kilicdaroglu. He added that the prevailing assumption is that the nationalist voters who decided to abandon Kilicdaroglu did not vote for Muharrem Ince because they believe he is a better candidate, but because he is the available option to gather votes for Kilicdaroglu.

Allouch explained that the voting bloc, which is set to elect Muharrem Ince in the initial round of the presidential elections, will not cast their vote in favor of Kilicdaroglu under any circumstances, as the ground behind their support for Ince stems from the alliance between the People's Democratic Party and Kilicdaroglu. He suggested that if “Kilicdaroglu wants to attract nationalist voters in a possible second round, he will need to provide a clear commitment that the HDP,” but he stressed that this would infuriate Kurdish voters, especially those who support the HDP. Thus, Allouch stressed that one can conclude that Kilicdaroglu's alliance with the HDP is beneficial, only if he can benefit from them in winning the elections in the first round.

Fate of the Kurdish vote in the second round

On March 3, Leader of Turkish Good Party Meral Aksener announced her withdrawal from "the table for 6" and her opposition to the nomination of Kemal Kilicdaroglu. She stressed that the opposition coalition no longer reflects the national will.

Allouch stressed that the Kurdish vote has played an important role in the runoff election, especially the HDP votes. However, he predicted that in a possible second round, the Kurdish vote may not be the decisive factor in the presidential elections. "The significance of the upcoming election will be determined by the allocation of nationalist votes to each candidate, namely Muharrem Ince of the Republican People's Party and Meral Aksener of the Good Party (IYI)."

He emphasized that the outcome of the election would depend on these votes in the second round, as well as on another significant voting bloc consisting of undecided voters who are monitoring the electoral scenario's development, whether in the first round or a potential second round. “In my opinion, the Kurdish vote will remain significant, but its significance will be more articulated if it can determine the election in favor of Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the first round. However, if we go to a second round, it will not be the decisive vote in determining or shifting the balance in favor of any candidate in these elections.”

Kurdish vote and the region

The Kurdish political situation is intertwined with the internal and regional Kurdish situation, according to Allouch, who explained further that the peace process Turkey initiated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party in 2013 led to a significant change in the Turkish conflict with the party and the Kurdish issue in general. However, he noted that the peace process between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party collapsed after around two years from the peace agreement, particularly when the Kurdish separatist project intensified in northern Syria. "The escalation of the Kurdish separatist project in northern Syria motivated the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party to achieve what their Kurdish counterparts, the Kurdish units in northern Syria, have accomplished."

He further explained that in 2014, the Democratic Union Party, with the support of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, "initiated a rebellion against the state in areas with a Kurdish majority. This highlights the significant impact that the regional Kurdish situation, which was shaped by the developments in Syria between 2013 and 2015, had on the Kurdish issue in Turkey," which he explains led to the collapse of the peace process between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Moreover, he contends that the attainment of self-rule in Kurdish-majority areas is a key demand of the Democratic Union Party and the Kurdistan Workers' Party. He belives that this objective is essentially a replication of the self-rule model that the Kurds of northern Iraq have already established. In addition, he discussed the convergence between the approaches to the future Kurdish situation for Turkey and the Kurds of Iraq, adding that part of the Turkish conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party is also linked to the conflict with its branches in the region.

Allouch noted that Turkey has been carrying out military operations against the Kurdish People's Protection Units in northern Syria for years. He pointed out that a considerable portion of Turkey's military presence in the region is aimed at countering the "separatist project of the Kurdish People's Protection Units." He also highlighted the Turkish military role in Iraq, aimed at confronting the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is an integral part of Turkey's domestic policy towards the Kurdish issue. He argued that the regional Kurdish situation is closely intertwined with the internal Kurdish political situation and its relationship with the Turkish state. Allouch concluded that these two factors combined have a significant impact on the domestic Kurdish political situation and its overall relationship with the Turkish state.

The Kurdish vote is considered a key variable that could determine the outcomes of both the governing and opposition coalitions. With the HDP's pledge to support for Kilicdaroglu, the electoral probabilities have shifted, and the HDP's impact on the political landscape has become more significant. There are many possible outcomes, each pushing the country towards a different political direction.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... yadeen-eng

[Anthea]

Demirtas tells Kurds to support murderers

The imprisoned former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas on Saturday called on the youth of Turkey to actively campaign less than two weeks ahead of crucial presidential and parliamentary elections

Demirtas, who has been jailed since 2016 on terror charges that he denies, urged young people to campaign and encourage voters in person, not on social media where they “won’t be able to change a single person’s opinion.”

“Until May 14, go around every house, every village. Get in touch with people, shake their hands and hug them,” Demirtas wrote in a tweet.

“Come on guys, let’s finish it in the first round,” he added, referring to the presidential vote. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the popular vote, then the top two candidates face off in a second round.

Demirtas’ party, HDP, in April endorsed opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is running to unseat the incumbent, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

BETTER ERDOGAN THAN ATATURK NATIONALISTS

Kilicdaroglu is considered Erdogan’s toughest challenger in two decades. He leads in most polls conducted inside Turkey and is considered the favourite amongst the younger generation.

Around 4.9 million new voters are eligible to go to the polls on May 14, according to Turkey’s High Election Council. Kilicdaroglu is seeking their vote with a promise to improve the economy, living conditions, and the quality of education.

According to Turkey’s Statistics Institution in February 2023, youth unemployment is at 19.2 percent.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... y/06052023

Kemal Kilicdaroglu leader of Ataturk's Kurdish slaughtering, nationalist party

Kurds have suffered 100 years of suppression and slaughter, now they have been sold out by the HDP who Kurds once believed would give them a FREE KURDISTAN

[Anthea]

600,000 security for elections

As the May 14 parliamentary and presidential elections approach, concerns and debates about the security of the polls are growing among the political parties

The security forces will be deployed in 81 cities in order to prevent any problems during the elections, according to Turkey’s interior ministry.

Leaders of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) say they have no fear or concern about the security of the polls, adding that the election will be peaceful and democratic.

"We have no fear. Everything is complete," Muhammed Serif Aydin, head of the AKP office in Diyarbakır (Amed) said about the May 14 elections, adding “All the political parties have already appointed their representatives at the polls."

Aydin is confident that the elections will be "a very democratic election".

Leaders of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and the Green Left Party have voiced concern over the security of the polls. However, they claim to have taken all measures to protect the security of the polls.

"We will follow the process from the day the election begins until the ballot boxes are processed and the votes are counted and submitted to the Supreme Election Board," Raci Bilici, a senior HDP member in Diyarbakir said.

In addition to the security forces, political party officials and election observers will also be present at 190,736 voting stations.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... /070520231

[james11]

Turkish elections refer to the process of electing representatives for various governmental bodies in Turkey, including the President, Parliament, and local municipalities. The election process in Turkey is overseen by the Supreme Election Council (YSK) and includes multiple stages, such as voter registration, candidate nomination, campaigning, and voting.

In presidential elections, a candidate must receive a majority of the vote in the first round to be elected, while in parliamentary elections, a party or coalition must receive at least 10% of the vote to enter the Parliament<a href="http://laptopswiki.com/9-best-laptops-under-200-dollars/">.</a>

The most recent presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey were held on June 24, 2018, and the next elections are scheduled to be held in 2023.

[Anthea]

Turkey’s control of internet
Wladimir van Wilgenburg

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) and ARTICLE 19 on Wednesday issued a joint statement urging the Turkish government to stop threatening or throttling social media platforms in an effort to prevent the circulation of opposing views, leading up to the upcoming May 14 elections

“The Turkish government has accelerated its efforts to enforce censorship and tighten control over social media and independent online news sites, ahead of the elections,” said Deborah Brown, senior technology researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“The vote will test whether voters in Turkey can rely on social media for independent news and to express their views on the elections and its outcome, despite government efforts to put companies under its heel.”

In recent years, Turkey has increased prosecutions of journalists and political opponents for online criticism, blocked opposing views and censored websites. Social media networks are often blocked during political unrest or anticipated criticism, as seen after the 2023 earthquakes.

The organizations stress the need for open social media platforms and messaging services. Respect for the human rights of the Turkish people to freely participate in democratic elections should be prioritized over profits.

The passage of new amendments in October 2022 regarding "public dissemination of misleading information" laws and harsher compliance measures to suppress online activity during elections are concerning. Non-compliant social media platforms face heavy fines and bandwidth restrictions.

“Social media companies may face intense pressure to remove content the government views unfavorably, including assessments from independent monitors,” said Sarah Clarke, director of ARTICLE 19 Europe.

“It is crucial for companies to resist these pressures and do everything in their power to push back against measures that would make them complicit in abusing rights during this critical election period.”

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/31 ... tions:-HRW

[Anthea]

Turkey raises salaries

The Turkish government is raising its workers’ salaries by 45 percent, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, five days before Turks vote in presidential and parliamentary elections

Polls show Erdogan in a tight race with the main opposition presidential candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Erdogan announced the pay rise on Tuesday at a meeting in Ankara that discussed the economic and social rights of public workers through a framework called the Public Collective Bargaining Agreement Framework Protocol.

“We are increasing wages by 45 percent, including the welfare share,” the president said, according to a statement on the government’s website. “Thus, we are raising the lowest public worker wage to TL15,000 [$768 per month].”

Erdogan added that he would continue to work on raising the wages and pensions of civil servants.

“In July, we have preparations based on the inflation difference and welfare share,” he said.

Turkey’s economy is a key issue heading into Sunday’s elections. Unorthodox interest rate cuts sought by Erdogan sparked a devaluation of the Turkish lira in late 2021 and sent inflation to a 24-year peak of 85.5 percent last year.

The country’s struggling economy, also reeling after the country’s devastating double earthquakes in February, has been a major blow to Erdogan’s campaign for re-election.

The president, who has led Turkey for 20 years, is campaigning on a promise of lowered interest rates as a way to tackle the economic crisis. He has also promised to slash inflation to single digits and boost economic growth.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/9 ... -elections

[Anthea]

Presidential election candidates

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics over the past two decades, has never appeared more vulnerable to an opposition challenge

Erdogan has tightened his grip on power and steered the country toward increasingly authoritarian rule. But he is trailing behind Kemal Kilicdaroglu — the joint candidate of a united opposition that has vowed to restore democracy — according to opinion polls.

The elections are being held amid a crippling economic downturn and high inflation as well as a catastrophic earthquake in February.

Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu are the front-runners in the presidential race. One candidate dropped out on Thursday, making the election a three-way race.

If none of the candidates win more than 50% of the votes in the presidential election on Sunday, a runoff election between the two candidates with the highest votes will be held on May 28. Here’s a look at the candidates seeking election in the presidential race:

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN
Better The Devil You Know

The 69-year-old strongman politician, who has been in office for the past two decades as prime minister and president having easily won five elections, is seeking a third consecutive presidential term.

Sunday's elections, however, are his toughest electoral challenge yet. The incumbent, who has concentrated a vast amount of power in his hands during his 20-years in office, has seen a drop in his popularity ratings amid economic turmoil and skyrocketing inflation that has been blamed on his mismanagement of the economy.

A powerful earthquake that devastated parts of southern Turkey, leaving more than 50,000 people dead, has exposed his government’s failure to prepare the earthquake-prone country to such a large-scale disaster, shaking his image as a powerful leader.

The president has vowed to rebuild the quake-devastated region within the year, emphasizing his government’s record on building infrastructure.

Erdogan, who leads the ruling conservative and religious Justice and Development Party, has formed an alliance with two nationalist parties, a small left-wing party and an Islamist party. He also has the outside backing of a controversial Kurdish-Islamist party with alleged links to a now-defunct organization that was linked to a series of gruesome killings in the 1990s.

KEMAL KILICDAROGLU
CHP = Kemalism = Atatürkism = Dead Kurds

The 74-year-old politician has led Turkey’s center-left and pro-secular main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, since 2010. The soft-mannered former bureaucrat has managed to unite Turkey’s fragmented and diverse opposition.

His Nation Alliance includes a center-right party, a nationalist party, an Islamist party and two parties that broke away from Erdogan’s ruling party.

It seeks to unseat Erdogan and return Turkey to a “strong parliamentary system” with strong checks and balances by scrapping the presidential system that the Turkish leader introduced by referendum in 2017. The alliance has also promised increased rights and freedoms and a return to more conventional economic policies.

Kilicdaroglu’s candidacy is backed by the leaders of the five other parties in the alliance — known as the Nation Alliance — who would serve as vice presidents in the event of a Kilicdaroglu victory. The popular mayors of Istanbul and Ankara, who have been campaigning on his behalf, are also likely to receive vice presidential posts. Kilicdaroglu also has the support of a pro-Kurdish party, currently Turkey’s second-largest opposition party.

SINAN OGAN

The 55-year-old nationalist politician, considered an outsider in the presidential race, is a former academician and expert on Russia and the Caucasus region.

His candidacy is backed by small right-wing parties, including the anti-migration Victory Party which seeks the repatriation of Syrian refugees. Ogan himself has said in a television interview that if elected, he would consider sending Syrians back “by force if necessary.”

He was a member of parliament from Turkey’s main nationalist party and waged an unsuccessful bid for its leadership. He was fired from the party but managed to rejoin before breaking away from the movement over policy differences, including the nationalists’ decision to join an alliance with Erdogan’s party.

MUHARREM INCE

The 58-year-old leader of the center-left, pro-secular and nationalist Homeland Party, dropped out of the race on Thursday, hours after a respected polling organization showed a significant drop in his popularity.

Ince will still feature on the ballot paper, and the votes that he received in the overseas balloting that ended this week will still be counted.

The firebrand politician has come under criticism for splintering the votes of the anti-Erdogan Nation Alliance and of possibly forcing the presidential race into a second-round runoff.

Ince previously ran against Erdogan in presidential elections in 2018 under the CHP ticket, garnering around 30% of the votes but later broke away from the party. The former physics teacher was criticized for disappearing on the night of the election and conceding defeat in a WhatsApp message to a journalist.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/31 ... -elections

[Anthea]

US Meddling in Türkiye's Elections

On Friday, Türkiye's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu criticized the United States for leading a Western media campaign to rig the country's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections due to take place on Sunday

"Everyone knows that the United States seeks to carry out a coup in this country every ten years," he said, adding that Washington has encouraged attacks on Turkish politicians during the electoral process.

"I am one of the people most vulnerable to attacks and insults through foreign social media accounts. The United States is interfering in these elections."

"The U.S. wants to change Türkiye. If Erdogan wins, then Türkiye wins. The U.S., which works to blackmail others, will not win. Can we get the U.S. dirty hand out of Türkiye," he said

"Türkiye has become a country free of terrorism. It continues to grow and ensure its political stability. Our nation triumphed on May 14, 1950 and it will triumph again," Soylu added.

As of Friday, opinion polls did not yet show a clear favorite to win the presidential election. If no candidate gets over 50 percent of the votes, a second round will take place on May 28.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/The ... -0021.html

Protect Turkey from the US, look at what the US did in the Ukraine by replacing the countries legally elected leader with a US puppet, look at what the US did in Pakistan by involving itself with the removal of the much loved president Imran Khan

[Anthea]

Nationalist votes up for grabs

With Muhharem Ince's recent withdrawal from the Turkish presidential race, the election dynamics are witnessing a shift as nationalist votes are up for grabs

Just days before the election, there was a surprising event in Turkish politics; Muharrem Ince, one of the four Turkish presidential candidates, suddenly dropped out. This unexpected move instantly changed the dynamics of the race.

There were many speculations regarding the outcome of the presidential elections after his withdrawal. Many anticipated that his initial votes could be directed in favor of CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, while others argued that the votes would be split between the incumbent President and the main opposition candidate.

Although Ince's withdrawal took place after millions of votes had already been cast abroad, it may have unintentionally helped the opposition by shifting the focus toward the two main candidates. With the current shift in the political landscape, the presidential race has become even more intriguing as both candidates reevaluate their strategies.

The opposition alliance could potentially strengthen its position with the withdrawal of Ince in favor of Kilicdaroglu, as a portion of Ince's voter base originated from the opposition. Ince did not receive votes from the ruling alliance, but rather from the opposition alliance.

However, the consequences of Ince's withdrawal from the presidential race go beyond his voter base or the original voting bloc. Another significant voting bloc, the nationalist bloc within the opposition alliance, has decided, according to opinion polls, to vote or support Ince in the presidential race.
Kilicdaroglu's alliance bites again

It is important to note that Ince's withdrawal from the presidential race may not have a significant impact on the electoral competition, despite the potential influence of his voter bloc and the nationalist bloc within the opposition alliance.

While these factors could potentially tilt the balance either in favor of Kilicdaroglu or Erdogan, it is important to consider that the alliance between Kilicdaroglu and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party could also impact the election dynamics. Additionally, it may still be challenging for either candidate to secure a win in the presidential elections during the first round of voting.

To clarify further, Ince's first voting bloc is relatively small, consisting of a solid electoral base that makes up no more than 1.5% of the total votes. This base originally supported the Republican People's Party but moved to Ince's new party after he split from it following the last presidential elections in 2018.

In contrast, Ince's second voting bloc is much larger and consists of nationalistic opposition voters who switched their support to him after Kilicdaroglu formed an alliance with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party. These voters are less likely to be swayed by Kilicdaroglu's candidacy and remain a key support base for Ince in the presidential race.

According to some analysts, there is a possibility that Kilicdaroglu can attract Ince's 1.5% electoral base if he actively seeks their support. However, it is highly unlikely that Kilicdaroglu will be able to win over the nationalistic opposition votes that were the primary reason for their support of Muharrem Ince.

These voters were dissatisfied with Kilicdaroglu's previous alliance with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party and are unlikely to shift their support to him. That said, Ince took to Twitter earlier today to call on his supporters not to allow "FETO members and separatists to be happy," which some analysts interpreted as a call to vote against Kilicdaroglu.

In a separate tweet, he also urged his supporters to vote for him, despite his recent withdrawal from the presidential race. It remains to be seen how these statements will impact the dynamics of the upcoming election.

Moreover, even if Ince calls on his supporters to back Kilicdaroglu, it is unlikely to sway those who are dissatisfied with the opposition’s recent alliance. The main issue for these voters is Kilicdaroglu's recent partnership, and it will be difficult for him to win them back.

Erdogan may benefit from the crisis facing the opposition due to Ince's split from the Republican People's Party and his competition with Kilicdaroglu if the latter fails to reassure the nationalistic opposition votes that shifted to Ince. Kilicdaroglu's ability to win back these voters depends on how effectively he can address their concerns regarding his alliance with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party.

Recently, Erdogan has tried to appeal to these voters by describing the party as a "terrorist organization". However, it remains to be seen if this strategy will be effective in winning back their support.

Recalculating Ogan's chances

Muharrem Ince and Sinan Ogan had a small chance of winning the presidential elections or even making it to the second round, but their influential role in the presidential elections is to force the elections into a runoff.

This means that as long as there are other candidates besides Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu, the two sides will not be able to settle the elections in the first round. Now that Muharrem Ince has withdrawn from the presidential race, the chances of settling the presidential elections in the first round have increased, either in favor of Kilicdaroglu or President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

However, analysts argue that the continued candidacy of Ogan is likely to impact the outcome of the presidential elections and could potentially lead to a runoff. This is due to two main reasons.

Firstly, opinion polls suggest that Ogan has a solid voting bloc of between 3% and 4%.

Secondly, the nationalistic opposition votes that previously supported Ince may now shift their support to Ogan.

This means that Ogan's voter percentage could potentially increase and have a significant impact on the outcome of the elections. Thus, it is likely that Ogan's candidacy will continue to push the elections into a runoff, prolonging the political uncertainty and tension in the country.

Voter inaccuracy

In a different scenario, Ince's withdrawal may have significant implications for voter turnout and accuracy in the upcoming election. One potential outcome is that it could trigger inaccuracies in voter turnout. Ince was seen as particularly appealing to younger, more progressive voters who were disillusioned with the current government. With Ince now out of the race, these voters may be less likely to turn out to vote in the election.

This could lead to an inaccurate representation of the electorate, with a higher percentage of conservative, older voters than would have been the case had Ince remained in the race. This could have implications for the outcome of the election, as the voting preferences of younger and more progressive voters may not be fully reflected in the results.

Overall, the implications of Ince's withdrawal from the presidential race in Turkey remain to be seen. However, the potential effects on voter turnout and the accuracy of the electorate, as well as the competitiveness of the election, could be significant. Despite these potential implications, it is worth noting that some argue that Ince's withdrawal may not have as significant an impact on the election outcome as some might think. Even with Ince in the race, Erdogan would have still posed a formidable challenge to the opposition.

It's worth noting that in the Turkish presidential elections, the winning candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes to secure the presidency in the first round. If none of the candidates achieve this threshold, the two candidates with the highest percentage of votes will proceed to a second round of voting.

As such, Ince's withdrawal may indeed increase the chances of settling the presidential elections in the first round, but it's still uncertain whether Kilicdaroglu or Erdogan will be able to secure the necessary percentage of votes to win outright. The outcome of the elections will likely hinge on the ability of the two sides to mobilize their respective voter bases and sway undecided voters.

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Remember in the 19020's the CHP stated Kurds should disappear like the Indians in the United States and that there is no other nation which could claim rights in Turkey than the Turkish race, and that all non-Turks would only have the right to be a servant or slave

[Anthea]

Early Results Show Erdogan Leads Vote

On Sunday, around 61 million eligible voters in Türkiye flocked to the polls to choose the Country's president and 600 legislators

The presidential election is expected to be a tight race between Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking re-election with the support of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a Social Democratic politician who is sponsored by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). Below are the major events as they occur.

20h00: Erdogan leads the unofficial count of presidential votes. So far, authorities have counted 41.8 percent of all the ballot boxes in the country.

According to unofficial data published by the media, President Erdogan has achieved 52.6 percent of the polls counted. Opposition candidate Kiliçdaroglu has won 41.6 percent of the vote. His party, however, maintains that the two main candidates are practically even.

If this trend continues, Erdogan will be re-elected for his third five-year presidential term. If neither candidate manages to get past 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held in two weeks.

Regarding the parliamentary elections, the AKP alliance would have won with 61 percent of the seats. In this case, however, the ballot box count only reaches 10 percent.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/UPD ... -0017.html