Vying for nationalist votes in Turkey's run-off election: Kemal Kilicdaroglu. © Ali Unal/dpa
Propaganda against refugees: Opposition leader Kilicdaroglu is courting right-wing forces in Turkey ahead of the run-off election. Can he score points against Erdogan?
A few days before the run-off election in Turkey, the opponents are once again entering the final spurt in the battle for votes. The opposition, in particular, is making a small U-turn. More offensive than usual, the challenger's alliance is vying for approval in the right-wing camp - with attacks on refugees. There are certainly risks associated with the strategy. Nevertheless, the opposition alliance is confident of victory.
"We can win this election," Sezgin Tanrikulu told Der Spiegel. The MP of the Republican People's Party (CHP) had conquered a mandate in Diyarbakir in last Sunday's parliamentary elections - the party had not succeeded in doing so for three decades.
Turkey's run-off election: Kilicdaroglu hopes to win against Erdogan
But is Tanrikulu right in his assessment? Contrary to hopes, the opposition six-party alliance of presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu had missed a majority in the Turkish election. The challenger was 4.5 percentage points behind President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After all, nothing has been decided yet. Both still have to face a run-off election next Sunday (May 28) - for the first time in the country's history.
The omens speak a little in favor of Erdogan. Above all, the incumbent must keep his electorate happy. In addition, he can now count on around 2.8 million more votes. On Monday, Sinan Ogan, who came third in the race for the presidency, made a recommendation and called on his supporters to vote for Erdogan.
In Turkey's run-off election, right-wing voters are expected to help the opposition win
Challenger Kilicdaroglu is putting pressure on this. This is because the gap between him and the incumbent has widened. Without new voter groups, electoral success will not be possible. That's why the opposition leader is now fishing for voters in the right-wing camp. In recent days, he has struck a more nationalistic tone, accusing Erdogan of failing to protect the country's borders and of allowing more than ten million refugees into the country. "I will send all the refugees home," he promised, "as soon as I come to power!"
These tones are not entirely new. But they have become more shrill since the Turkish election. Political observers are not really surprised. After the Turkish elections, the country experienced a shift to the right. From the parliamentary elections, which took place parallel to the presidential election, the right-wing forces emerged strengthened: ten out of 16 parties are assigned to the nationalist spectrum. Of the nearly 600 deputies, 404 are considered right-wing conservatives.
Kilicdaroglu in the run-off: His new strategy against Erdogan carries risks
Among them are the ultra-nationalist MHP, but also several small splinter parties that made it into parliament with the help of Erdogan's People's Alliance. But there are also right-wing supporters in the opposition alliance, such as the Good Party (IYI).
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It remains to be seen whether Kilicdaroglu will be able to attract some supporters from the Erdogan camp to him. Because his strategy of relying more on the right-wing forces is tantamount to a balancing act. On the one hand, he wants to win over new voters with his brash tones. On the other hand, he must not alienate the many moderate forces that have supported him. The Kurds in particular are watching the new policy with eagle eyes. (jkf
)
