Bloomberg Election Process Commentary: Erdogan’s Bad Week…

As Turkey is locked in the elections to be held on May 14, Bloomberg, one of the leading media organizations in the US, conveyed the latest developments with an analysis…

Using the headline “Erdogan’s setbacks worsen as critical elections approached,” the news agency said: “President Erdogan failed to persuade the former economy minister. The opposition, on the other hand, chose a joint candidate and they seek to generate support,” he said.

The Bloomberg report used the headline: “Erdogan’s week of setbacks got worse as the election neared.”

Noting that the elections due to take place in May may go head-to-head, Bloomberg said: “Erdogan was unable to convince former economy minister Mehmet Şimşek to return. After meeting for more than an hour in Ankara, Şimşek said that he would not return to active politics. Şimşek’s decision came a few hours after the leader of the Welfare Again party announced that President Erdoğan would not join the alliance he formed with the conservative and nationalist parties and would stand as a candidate. Bloomberg also drew attention to the AKP’s alliance with Hüda-Par.

Bloomberg, who opened a separate paragraph for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the Nation Alliance’s middle candidate, said: “People with knowledge on the matter said that the HDP would support Kılıçdaroğlu, who was selected as the joint candidate after lengthy negotiations. The HDP gets votes from more than 10 percent of the electorate. Bloomberg also stated that a statement from the HDP is expected today.

“IF ERDOGAN LOSES THE ELECTIONS…”

In the news, “Erdogan’s loss in the election will have seismic effects both in the Middle East and around the world. Erdogan, 69, has worked for 20 years to create an oppressive one-man system and has played a role fundamental in relations with China, Russia, the United States and other countries in the region.

Stating that there is little belief that Erdogan will change his economic policies behind Şimşek’s refusal to return to the AKP, Bloomberg said: “A former Merrill Lynch strategist, Şimşek has a market-friendly image on Erdogan governments from the investors. In the later years of his political career, he was seen as someone who opposed Erdogan’s unconventional moves.”

Speaking to Bloomberg, economist Tim Ash said: “Erdogan probably did not agree to authorize Şimşek to raise policy rates as expected. I think we learned that we will not back down from Erdogan’s vision on economic policies,” he said.