This is what Sinan Ogan says at a press conference on Monday afternoon. – We will support the Justice and Development Party’s candidate, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the second round of the election on May 28, Ogan said. There has been great tension as to who the nationalist presidential candidate will give his support to. Neither incumbent President Erdogan nor challenger Kemal Kiliçdaroglu received more than 50 percent of the vote in the previous election round. Therefore, the 5 percent that Ogan received could be decisive. The 5 percent was higher than what had been predicted by the measurements beforehand. The support from Ogan can also help to influence the future of millions of refugees in Turkey. Refugee issue important Especially the question of what to do with Syrian refugees in Turkey has become important in this year’s election. In a controversial agreement between the EU and Turkey in 2016, Turkey received several billion euros in exchange for the country slowing down the flow of refugees and migrants to Europe. The agreement has also contributed to many Syrians living in the country. There are over 4 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey. These tents in Gaziantep were set up after the earthquakes earlier this year. Photo: AFP Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu and Ogan all three believe that the refugees must return, but disagree on how this should be done: Ogan is the strictest of them. He says refugees can be sent back by force if necessary. Erdogan will do it through a volunteer program. Among other things, he has built houses in Syria that the refugees can return to. Kilicdaroglu is looking to the EU for help. He wants the Syrians out within two years, but says it must happen voluntarily. There are still challenges linked to both Erdogan’s and Kilicdaroglu’s solutions. Has made demands Challenger Ogan is referred to in some media as a “kingmaker” before the re-election. He has also made demands on the person he wants to give his support to. Most important for Ogan is that he distances himself from what he calls “terrorists”, according to Al Jazeera. Both Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu have the support of what Ogan sees as terrorists. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu heads the Social Democratic Party Republican People’s Party. Photo: YASIN AKGUL / AFP Analysts are still unsure how many of Ogan’s followers will vote for the person he now supports, writes the New York Times. They believe that many of the voters voted for him to protest against the two top candidates, and that they will now abstain from voting in the run-off election. There was a high turnout in the first round, with 89 percent of those eligible to vote casting a vote. Expert: Uncertain about voters’ loyalty Einar Wigen is a Turkey expert and professor at the University of Oslo (UiO). He believes Ogan was very clear in his message during Monday’s press conference: – What he is saying is that if you want a strong Turkey, you must vote for Erdogan, says Wigen. Einar Wigen is unsure whether Ogan’s voters will follow his call to vote for Erdogan. Photo: University of Oslo He emphasizes that Ogan’s political positions are nothing new, but that they are well established in Turkish politics. Wigen also highlights the refugee issue. – He talked a lot before the election about how important it was to throw out the refugees. What he got up to there with Erdogan, I’m not sure. Nor does Wigen think it is a matter of course that Ogan’s voters listen to him. – He is still just a man with a small party, and these voters probably have little loyalty to him. He is not a major leader in Turkish politics. At the same time, he points out that little is needed before Erdogan gets over the 50 percent mark. – To the extent that Erdogan’s results are correct, there is not far left to 50 percent. If everyone who voted Erdogan then votes now, not many of Ogan’s votes are needed to get over 50. Kilicdaroglu needs all of Ogan’s votes to get over.
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Supporting Erdogan in the re-election in Turkey – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
