The euphoria that prevailed on the eve of the first round of presidential elections has faded, says Marjanne de Kwaasteniet, former ambassador to Ankara. “But that doesn’t mean people won’t vote anymore.”
Despite the defeat in the first round, De Kwaasteniet sees signs that the opposition, united under candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has not given up on the fight against incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan. ‘A call has been made to recruit more volunteers who can check on the benches if everything is being done correctly. And there has been a large response to that.’
“Perhaps the euphoria of the opponents on the eve of the first round was not entirely justified”
Even if he acknowledges that the euphoria has disappeared. “Although it may not have been entirely reasonable.” However, the former ambassador thinks Turkish voters will not stay home en masse.
Right-wing rhetoric
He also saw how Kilicdaroglu “has sharpened his rhetoric on the right, especially when it comes to the fight against terrorism and the return of migrants.” The presidential candidate said in a speech that he wants to return millions of migrants if he comes to power. “We are not very used to this kind of election with only two candidates and we always expect nuance,” says Kwaasteniet. ‘But you have to put it very broadly to get that fifty plus one vote. That’s why Kilicdaroglu is trying to bind nationalist voters.’
Furthermore, the opposition has said from the outset that it wants to reach an agreement with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the return of refugees. “So that was always part of the plan.”
You have to support the opposition
Kwaasteneet believes that Western governments owe it to themselves to support the opposition. “We have always said that democracy in Turkey is in danger and that we are actually dealing with an autocracy. We have always put a hand under the belt of the opposition. It would be strange to suddenly stop doing it now.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
