Devendra Kumar
The Turkish presidential election has taken an interesting turn as Sinan Ogan, the third-placed contender, has formally endorsed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the second-round runoff vote on May 28th. Ogan’s endorsement comes after neither Erdogan nor his main challenger, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, secured the majority needed for a first-round victory on May 14th. Ogan won 5.17% of the votes in the first round and could hold the key to victory in the runoff now that he is out of the race.
In a statement, Ogan declared, “I declare that we will support Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the candidate of the People’s Alliance, in the second round of the elections. We believe that our decision will be the right decision for our country and nation.” Ogan cited Erdogan’s parliamentary majority as a reason for his decision, emphasizing the importance of the newly elected president being under the same leadership as the parliament. He also pointed out that Kilicdaroglu’s alliance did not have a convincing perspective on the future.
Ogan’s endorsement is seen as a significant development, given his nationalist leanings and his potential to influence nationalist voters. However, analysts note that it is not certain that all of Ogan’s supporters will automatically switch to Erdogan. Some may choose not to vote in the runoff, while others may shift to Kilicdaroglu, who has been vowing to take a tougher stance on refugees and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Kilicdaroglu’s campaign has been struggling to gain ground, and his decision to send back refugees and rule out peace negotiations with the PKK is seen as an attempt to appeal to nationalist voters. Erdogan, meanwhile, has maintained a steady lead, having received 49.5% of the votes in the first round. His ruling AK party and its nationalist and Islamist allies also retained a majority in the 600-seat parliament, increasing his chances of re-election.
Ogan’s endorsement has sparked controversy, with some accusing him of engaging in horse-trading with Erdogan. Ogan denied any such allegations, saying that his decision was made solely to support what he believed was best for the country and nation. The leader of the anti-migrant Victory Party, Umit Ozdag, also distanced himself from Ogan’s decision, stating that it did not represent the views of the party and did not bind it.
As the runoff approaches, it remains to be seen how Ogan’s endorsement will impact the election outcome. Will nationalist voters follow Ogan’s lead, or will they instead shift their support to Kilicdaroglu? One thing is certain, however: Erdogan’s path to re-election has become significantly clearer.