Turkish Opposition Candidate Kilicdaroglu Comments on Rival’s Support for Erdogan in Run-Off

Turkish elections

After Sinan Ogan, the third-place candidate in the first round of the Turkish presidential elections, officially announced his support for the incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming run-off on May 28, the opposition candidate commented Kemal Kilicdaroglu on command.

And he said on his official account on Twitter, Monday, that “it is clear who stands by this beautiful country, and who stands by its sale.”

He also added, “We are coming to save this country from terrorism and refugees.”

“This is a referendum”

He also added, “This is a referendum. No one can deceive anyone anymore.”

He called on the 8 million citizens and all the young people who did not come to the polls to vote.

Vote for Erdogan in the second round

It is reported that after a mystery that lasted about a week, it was revealed Sinan Ogan Earlier Monday, his position on supporting the two competing candidates was incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his opposition rival Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

The hard-line nationalist, who ran in the elections as a representative of a coalition of right-wing parties led by the Nasr Party, which is extremely hostile to refugees and immigrants, officially announced his support for Erdogan in the upcoming run-off on the 28th of this month.

Sinan Ogan (AFP)

“I ask the voters who voted for us in the first round to vote for Erdogan in the second round,” said Ogan, a dissident from the nationalist movement, the party allied with Erdogan’s camp, who won 5.2% of the vote in the first round.

‘The nation’s alliance has not succeeded enough’

He also stressed at a conference held in Ankara that “the nation’s alliance did not succeed enough, and was unable to present a perspective that would convince him of the future, or to secure a parliamentary majority, as it lost the factor of stability.”

He added, “The continuous and stable struggle will continue against all kinds of terrorist organizations,” noting that “there is a timetable regarding the issue of asylum seekers and fugitives, and work will begin as soon as possible.”

He also made it clear that all conditions will be imposed for the safe return of asylum seekers to their countries, according to a timetable.

While stressing that the second round of the elections is decisive, pointing out that he met with both candidates and discussed his party’s well-known priorities, adding: “We defended our principles without any bargaining, participation or demand.”

Kingmaker?!

The 55-year-old loser’s name was turned into a “potential kingmaker” after Erdogan, leader of the Justice and Development Party, and his main rival, opposition leader Kilicdaroglu, failed to secure the majority needed to win the first round on May 14.

It is noteworthy that his support for Erdogan came days after he held a surprise meeting with him in Istanbul on Friday, but no details were disclosed about this hour-long meeting.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan (archive from France Press)

While some analysts saw that this support would give Erdogan a boost, others suggested that he would divide Ogan’s supporters at the same time, especially since the Victory Party will announce its position on the run-off separately on Tuesday.

In the first round, Erdogan received 49.5% of the vote, while his Democratic Socialist opponent, Kamal Kilicdaroglu, won 44.9%, a difference of 2.5 million votes.

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