In the aftermath of the first round, in which Kurzdaloglu won 45%, opposition leaders pivoted to more nationalist politics and struck a deal with Umit Ozdag, chairman of the far-right Victory Party, to secure millions of voters. He also promised to deport Syrian and Afghan refugees. turkey.
However, it turned out that Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu was unable to gain the support of the main nationalist candidate, Sinan Oan, who came in third place with 5% of the vote and supported Mr. Erdoğan instead. did.
Despite the opposition’s nationalist leanings, jailed Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş called on voters to support Kılıçdaroğlu in the second round.
“Without change from the ballot box, there will be disaster for the economy and democracy. There will be no more third round in this business. Let’s make Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu president, let Turkiye breathe.” he said in a tweet.
Some analysts said the first-round results reflected the enduring appeal of Erdogan’s politics rooted in populism and Islamism, and that loyalty to the AK Party was far stronger in Turkey’s rural heartlands in particular than in the country’s largest cities, which are increasingly antipathetic to the policies of the long-time president.
Turkish opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu performed worse than poll expectations in the first round of elections on May 14. Can Erik/AFP (via Getty Images)
Critics fear that under Erdogan, Turkey’s ties with the West will further weaken and the independence of the country’s media, judiciary and other institutions will decline even more rapidly.
The Washington Institute’s Čaptay said Erdogan is helped by “complete control over the flow of information” in Turkey. Much of the media is controlled by business groups close to the president, and about 80% of Turks only read news in their native language.
“He can ‘curate’ reality for them,” Chaptai said. “He can frame parts of the opposition as being ‘supported’ by terrorists, but I think that’s where some of the voters are stuck. They wonder who will run Turkey better. We never got to that point.”
