Before run-off election in Turkey: opposition leader Kilicdaroglu railed against refugees

Status: 05/18/2023 2:14 p.m

Just a few days before the run-off election for the Turkish presidency, Erdogan’s challenger Kilicdaroglu is adopting a sharper tone in refugee policy – probably also a concession to the ultra-right. Because their votes could be decisive.

A good ten days before the runoff election for the presidency in Turkey, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu adopts a more aggressive tone towards refugees: “As soon as I come to power, I will send all the refugees home, period,” said Kilicdaroglu. He put the number of refugees in the country at ten million – without naming a source. According to official information from the United Nations, 3.9 million refugees live in Turkey. Most of them come from Syria.

The sharper tone is also likely to be a concession to the third-place finisher in the presidential election, far-right candidate Sinan Ogan. Its supporters could be decisive in the runoff between Kilicdaroglu and incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And Ogan has already made it clear that he will only recommend either candidate if they take a tougher stance on refugee policy. However, it is not clear whether Ogan’s voters would follow his recommendation.

In the battle for the Turkish presidency, the nationalist Ogan’s recommendation could be decisive.
more

Runoff election on May 28th

Kilicdaroglu finished last Sunday’s presidential election behind incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who narrowly missed out on victory in the first round. Because neither candidate received more than 50 percent of the votes, Kilicdaroglu and Erdogan will face off in a runoff on May 28.

source site