ANKARA: The leader of Turkiye’s anti-immigrant Victory Party, Umit Ozdag, announced his endorsement of opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu on Wednesday. This endorsement has the potential to boost Kilicdaroglu’s campaign as he seeks to close the gap and defeat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming Sunday runoff election.
Umit Ozdag, the head of the nationalist Victory Party, which secured 2.2 percent support in the parliamentary vote held on May 14, called on his supporters to back Kilicdaroglu in the May 28 runoff. Erdogan, who aims to extend his two-decade rule, will face strong opposition from Kilicdaroglu.
Speaking at a news conference in Ankara alongside Kilicdaroglu, Ozdag stated, “We have decided to support Mr. Kilicdaroglu in the second round of the presidential elections.” This endorsement could counterbalance the one Erdogan received on Monday from Sinan Ogan, the far-right alliance’s presidential candidate led by the Victory Party.
In the initial vote, Erdogan secured 49.5 percent, Kilicdaroglu obtained 44.9 percent, and Ogan came in third with 5.2 percent of the presidential vote. The pursuit of endorsements from right-wing figures reflects the unexpectedly significant support for nationalists in the May 14 elections. With many voters still undecided, these endorsements hold the potential to sway the outcome of the runoff.
Ozdag emphasized that his party and Kilicdaroglu have reached an agreement to repatriate migrants within a year, in line with international law and human rights. He stated that he held similar discussions with Erdogan’s AK Party (AKP), but decided against endorsing him as their plans did not involve repatriating migrants.
First Phase of Turkiye’s Election
Erdogan’s strong performance in the initial vote defied the predictions of pollsters who had placed Kilicdaroglu ahead in opinion polls. With his ruling AKP’s coalition securing a parliamentary majority, Erdogan holds an advantage in one of Turkiye’s most crucial elections. Erdogan has positioned himself as the candidate of stability, urging voters to support him in the runoff.
In contrast, Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the candidate of a six-party alliance, has vowed to repatriate all migrants once elected. Turkiye currently hosts the largest number of refugees worldwide. Kilicdaroglu has also pledged to roll back Erdogan’s far-reaching changes in Turkish domestic, foreign, and economic policies, including reversing an unorthodox economic program to address the cost-of-living crisis.
Umit Ozdag, a former deputy leader of the nationalist MHP, which is part of Erdogan’s alliance, joined Kilicdaroglu’s alliance after being ousted from the IYI Party in 2021. He founded the Victory Party and now plays a significant role in endorsing Kilicdaroglu’s candidacy.
