Financial Times election analysis: If Erdogan loses…

The May 14 elections continue to occupy the agenda of Turkey and the world… Financial Times, one of the most renowned British newspapers, used the headline “Turkish Elections: Erdoğan Faces His Biggest Rival” and said: “After being in In power for 21 years, the President has joined a united opposition determined to turn the tide of the country in a hard-fought race.”

It was pointed out that during the election campaigns, the debates reached as far as the onion and the warship, and it was recalled that the Nation Alliance presidential candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, came to the fore with the videos he posted in the kitchen. from his house

“The opposition leader wants to show that the inflation that skyrocketed under Erdogan is affecting all households. Financial Times reporters Andrew England and Adam Samson commented that the price of onion, which is of vital importance to Turkish cuisine, has increased 5-fold in the last 18 months in the capital Ankara, noting that President Erdoğan inaugurated the warship in response to Kılıçdaroğlu’s onion video.

The British newspaper Financial Times published a very comprehensive article on the elections.

While it was said in the news that “voters will vote for two different candidates on May 14”, it was recalled that Kılıçdaroğlu managed to “finally” convince voters to change due to the high cost of living and increasing pressure from Erdoğan. .

“The opposition victory, especially the victory by a narrow margin, will test Erdogan’s commitment to democracy and the judiciary, police and military that he has controlled for 20 years. If Erdogan wins another term, the opposition worries that Turkey will slip into a much harsher oppressive regime.

Recalling that the economic crisis reduced Erdogan’s popularity, it was also emphasized that he changed three central bank presidents in four years. However, the article included the comment that “Erdogan’s supporters insist that he is the only man who can fix this problem.”

While it was noted that Kılıçdaroğlu wanted to repair relations with NATO members and European countries and was determined to maintain economic relations with Russia, Kılıçdaroğlu told the Financial Times: “We gave the Republic of Turkey to one person. Such a mentality cannot exist. We will win and we will heal Turkey,” he said.

ERDOĞAN WAS EARNING 1 DOLLAR WAS 4.5 TL

Recalling that Erdogan’s influence waned in the 2015 elections and that the AKP lost its majority for the first time in 13 years, it was also claimed that the majority was achieved in early elections held in the same year. It was claimed that there was a perception that Erdogan would be defeated in elections held 3 years after that election due to high inflation, and Erdogan was reported to have won that election and became president. It was also noted that 1 dollar was 4.5 TL at that time.

On Erdogan’s campaign, “Erdogan’s election campaign is a combination of pre-election promises. One month of free natural gas, increase in the minimum wage, 10 GB of free internet for students. And we must add the opening of state projects”.

“ERDOĞAN’S CAMPAIGN IS NOT PANIC BUT…”

However, statements by an official close to Erdogan were also included. The report stated: “Erdogan’s supporters know that he is at war. “There is no panic, but they are not comfortable either,” said a person with knowledge of the election campaign.

Ferhat Bıçakçı, an expert from the Seta think tank, known for its closeness to Erdogan, spoke to the Financial Times. “Erdogan’s campaign is confident. But they know that they have to work hard and that the choice is on a razor’s edge,” he said.

Stating that the outcome of the election will be determined by “restless conservatives”, youth and Kurdish voters, the Financial Times said: “Those who generally vote for Erdoğan but believe he is no longer in office, 5.3 million new voters and the Kurds, who make up 18 percent of the population of 85 million, will affect the outcome,” he made his comment.

“Even if Erdogan loses, very few people will resort to pen and paper to announce that his political career is over. It is a matter of curiosity, in particular, what the opposition will do when facing the great challenges facing Turkey.

However, it was also recalled that the opposition had been negotiating for more than a year and that more than 2,300 points of consensus were reached in the article.