KIEF: The ultimate percentages of first place in Rodopi and Xanthi – 2024-06-12 20:44:50

On condition that one thing comparable had occurred within the 2019 European elections, the comfy lead of KIEF in two of the three prefectures of Thrace was roughly anticipated.

After all, in comparison with the momentum that the minority get together confirmed when the polls closed and the votes within the territory started to be built-in, there was a partial decline in its percentages.

Not that the 36% gained by KIEF in Rodopi is a negligible end result. Particularly because it was mixed with +16% in opposition to New Democracy. Ultimately, nevertheless, it was barely diminished from the 38% he had recorded on the poll field 5 years in the past.

Quite the opposite, the Celebration of Equality, Peace and Friendship confirmed a small rise in Xanthi, attaining a transparent victory over the ruling get together. Total, the KIEF reached 27.16%, and +2% from the earlier time, on the similar time that the ND misplaced 4 factors. So the space between them, which in 2019 was marginal, reached seven.

Notably, in Evros the facility of KIEF was at 1.19%!

The historical past of KIEF

The Equality, Peace and Friendship Celebration was based in 1991 by Sadik Ahmed with the intention of recognizing a nationwide Turkish identification for the Muslim minority of Western Thrace.

Ahmed remained on the helm till his dying in 1995. He was succeeded by his spouse, Isik Ahmed, who presided till 1999.

Subsequently and till 2007, Ahmet Hadjiosman ascended to the presidency. The latter was a member of parliament of the PaSoK.

The subsequent president of KIEF was Mustafa Bosnak, who in 2010 was changed by Mustafa Ali Chavous.

Right this moment the president is Tsigdem Asafoglou. She was the one candidate on the 2019 congress. She has described herself as Turkala and her statements have usually been incendiary.

Within the 2014 European elections, the full power of KIEF was measured at 0.75% and in 2019 at 0.71%.

What triggered the KIEF rally

Till a couple of weeks in the past, the local weather in Western Thrace didn’t recommend a troublesome election battle. There was calm and stillness, curiosity was diminished.

Till the second when the latest choice of the Rodopi Court docket of First Occasion, to be able to cease the operation of the affiliation “Sports activities and Cultural Affiliation of Western Thrace Fenerbahce”, brought about the response of the native minority ingredient. It was, in reality, an affiliation of followers of the Turkish staff in Komotini that began its operation in October 2022, having obtained the related working license.

As acknowledged by the court docket which issued its verdict on Might 28, the choice involved the usage of the geographical designation “western” Thrace which isn’t permissible. The Turkish media related the choice with the previous president of the Supreme Court docket and former prime minister, Vasiliki Thanou. Based on the allegations within the related stories, she was the one who had known as for the closure of the Affiliation, claiming that it “constitutes a menace to public security”.

The KIEF hastened to make the most of the actual fact politically, contemplating that behind this complete initiative there’s a state hand. They claimed that with such practices, the minority suffered new restrictions on the freedoms of meeting and affiliation.

The get together’s management had issued an announcement underneath the title “we had been left speechless”, claiming amongst different issues that “our nation’s democracy has taken one other step again”.

The results of this, mixed with the shortage of sturdy nominations from the Muslim minority on the SYRIZA and PASoK European poll papers, was for the KIEF to collect voters and acquire power. Nevertheless, Assafoglou anticipated even higher performances, as a result of there was a major pre-election presence of the get together’s candidates in Thrace.