“To beat Erdogan, Kiliçdaroglu needs 5% of the far right, which seems unlikely”

Erdogan supporters on May 15, 2023 in Ankara. UMIT BEKTAS / REUTERS

INTERVIEW – Erdogan came out on top in the first round of the presidential election ahead of his opponent Kiliçdaroglu. Arrived third, the ultranationalist Sinan Ogan will be kingmaker, analyzes Professor Samim Akgönül.

The first round of the Turkish presidential election, which was held on Sunday May 14, puts current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a priori in the lead in the first round, with some 49% of the vote, ahead of Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, whose candidacy was supported by several allied parties for the occasion. Admittedly, for the first time in Turkey, a second round is looming on May 28, but the outgoing Islamo-conservative president has nevertheless managed to do better than the polls predicted. At the same time, Recep Erdogan announced that his camp had won the legislative elections, which were being held at the same time.


University professor, Samim Akgönül directs the Turkish studies department of the University of Strasbourg.


THE FIGARO. – The polls placed Erdogan well behind his opponent Kiliçdaroglu. How could they be wrong?

SAMIM AKGÖNÜL. – The expected wave in favor of the opposition did not take place, but can we really speak of surprise? Polls showed the candidate of…

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