The ruling party in Turkey is suffering from a continuing erosion in its popularity • In Erdogan's hometown they have found a creative solution: spending time in the huge presidential palace in Ankara
Turkish President Erdogan of Ankara last month
Photo:
AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Development and Justice Party has experienced a significant drop in its electoral power in the past year, due to the difficult economic situation in the country and anti-democratic measures by the government.
In an attempt to curb the phenomenon, the party launched various campaigns in the constituencies where losses were recorded in the local elections held in the country last year.
One of those provinces is Riza, Erdogan's hometown, where the party was defeated in the last election.
Now, the ruling party is determined to get it back in their hands, even through particularly creative ways.
A local party official has posted a poster that has also been circulated on social media, according to which new party functionaries will have a day at the presidential palace, in a huge and ostentatious compound built by Erdogan in the capital Ankara, which is considered an eye-popping symbol by the authorities.
The campaign provoked great outrage in the media affiliated with the opposition.
The Yani Chag newspaper, which is affiliated with the Republican People's Party, Erdogan's rival, quoted angry residents from the province: "The party offers visits to the presidential palace as if it were the property and not the property of the entire people."
After the storm, the ruling party declined to comment on the controversial campaign.
Despite this, the announcement was downloaded from the party's Facebook page in Riza province.
The Presidential Palace in Ankara was built between 204-2012 at an estimated cost of over $ 350 million.
The ostentatious structure has been criticized by opposition circles in the country, mainly due to anomalies found in its construction budget.
The palace, which spans 202 acres in the heart of the Turkish capital, has 1,150 rooms, two helicopter pads and dozens of conference rooms and halls for various events.
