The dual election campaign for Turkey's presidency and parliament, which incumbent President Tayyip Erdogan described a few days ago as a "fateful election campaign," enters its final week amid rising tensions over violent clashes between rival camps before, during or after the vote.
An election conference held by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamulu, an opposition figure, in the western Turkish city of Erzurum was blown up by nationalists affiliated with Erdogan's camp who threw stones at the mayor. Imamoglu was forced to leave the city.
In the coming days, the two leading presidential candidates – Erdogan of the conservative-Islamist coalition and Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the six opposition parties trying to end Erdogan's 20-year rule – will hold their last mass election rallies.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu greets his supporters, Photo: Reuters
President Erdogan, whose continuation in office is not guaranteed given the strengthening of the united opposition front against him, held a huge show of strength in Istanbul on Sunday, where his party held what an official statement called "a historic rally unprecedented in size in Turkey and Europe."
Erdogan's supporters attend his campaign rally in Istanbul, Photo: AP
Thousands attended the rally, Photo: AP
The rally took place at Istanbul's former Atatürk International Airport, which was one of the main sites in the suppression of the attempted military coup against Erdogan on July 15, 2016. Atatürk Port was chosen by the ruling Justice and Development Party to host the rally because of its "symbolic importance". The link between the rally and the coup attempt was intended to portray the opposition as the successor of the coup attempt.
Erdogan, who in his election campaign celebrates his economic achievements during his two decades as prime minister and president despite high inflation, the cost of living and the weakening value of the Turkish lira, promises to continue working diligently for "a great and powerful Turkey." "Only Allah and our great nation know what obstacles we have overcome for this purpose, we will continue to build the Turkish century together, shoulder to shoulder."
Erdogan's supporters, photo: AP
Will they smile at the end of the election? Erdogan's supporters, photo: AP
To add validity to his nationalist tone, Erdogan promised in interviews with local media that the Turkish army was waiting for the right moment to renew its military offensive against Kurdish "terrorist organizations" in northern Syria and northern Iraq.
Erdogan cancels election campaign events due to illness // Reuters
The fate of the election results may be in the hands of the two secondary presidential candidates, who, if they do not withdraw from the race in the coming days, could force a second round of presidential elections on May 28.
These two candidates are Muharram Incha, a school principal and physics teacher who quit Kilicdaroğlu's Republican People's Party and founded his own party, the Fatherland Party, and far-right figure Sinaif Owen, who quit the pro-Erdogan Nationalist Movement party. Each of them could win a small percentage of the vote that would prevent either of the two main candidates from gaining the 51% majority needed to win in the first round.
Recent opinion polls in Turkey show conflicting voting trends, giving each of the two main candidates an advantage while continuing to narrow the gap between opposition candidate Kilicdaroğlu, who usually led by a respectable margin, and Erdogan.
Turkish President Erdogan, photo: Reuters
Even if Erdogan wins again, almost all polls predict that the union of the six opposition parties is likely to win a majority in parliament, a feat that would tie Erdogan's hands. Unless he succeeds in getting one of the opposition parties to his side.
In light of the close race, tens of thousands of activists of the rival parties went outside the major cities yesterday in an effort to recruit more voters to their camp. The main streets are lined with endless election posters of presidential and parliamentary candidates. In the large squares, under the watchful eye of police officers, explanatory leaflets were distributed. Cars with speakers and amplifiers from the various parties drove around, playing mostly loud music, to draw attention to the posters on them.
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