Global Courant 2023-05-11 18:41:48
A candidate in Turkey’s presidential election announced Thursday that he was withdrawing from the race, a move likely to strengthen President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main challenger.
Muharrem Ince, the leader of the center-left Homeland Party, was one of four contenders for president in the May 14 elections. At the same time, Turkey is also holding parliamentary elections.
Ince was heavily criticized for splitting the vote of the six-party Nation Alliance, which has backed the candidacy of main opposition party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, and for potentially forcing the presidential race into a second round.
“I am withdrawing from the race,” Ince told reporters outside his party’s headquarters. “I’m doing this for my country.”
Slight lead
Erdogan, who has led Turkey as prime minister and president since 2003, is facing the most challenging election of his 20-year rule. Polls showed Kilicdaroglu had a slight lead over Erdogan, though neither candidate was expected to receive more than 50 percent of the vote needed to be elected in the first round.
People wait for a bus in front of a poster of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 10, 2023 in Istanbul. On May 14, Erdogan will face his biggest electoral test as Turkey goes to the polls for the country’s general election. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Ince had received about eight percent of the vote when his candidacy was first announced, but his popularity has since fallen to about two percent, according to polls.
The fiery politician did not say he was quitting in favor of Kilicdaroglu, but analysts say his withdrawal is likely to benefit the Nation Alliance.
Members of the Nation Alliance welcomed Ince’s decision to step down.
“God willing, our nation will take the necessary steps in the coming days so that we will succeed in the first round,” said Gultekin Uysal, leader of the center-right Democratic Party.
However, In said the Homeland Party, which he founded in 2021, would still run in parliamentary elections, calling for votes for the party “from every household”.
The 58-year-old former physics teacher had previously fought against Erdogan in presidential elections in 2018, under the ticket of Kilicdaroglu’s main opposition party, CHP. He had received about 30 percent of the vote, but later broke away from the party.
“They will have no excuses if they lose the election,” Ince said, clearly referring to Kilicdaroglu.
