ISTANBUL: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan concluded his election rallies in Istanbul on Saturday, launching accusations against the opposition of collaborating with US President Joe Biden in an attempt to overthrow him.
This final appeal comes ahead of one of the most critical elections in Turkey’s modern history, with polls indicating Erdogan trailing behind the main opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu. However, if neither candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will take place on May 28.
In addition to electing a new president, voters will also choose a new parliament. The race for the parliament is expected to be tight between the People’s Alliance, consisting of Erdogan’s AK Party (AKP) and the nationalist MHP, and Kilicdaroglu’s Nation Alliance, which includes six opposition parties, including the secularist Republican People’s Party (CHP) founded by Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Polling stations will open at 8 am (0500 GMT) and close at 5 pm (1400 GMT), and by late Sunday, there may be indications of whether a runoff vote will be necessary for the presidency.
Throughout his campaign, Erdogan has emphasized his government’s achievements in the infrastructure projects and defense industry, warning that the opposition would reverse these developments.
One of his key talking points has been the opposition’s alleged affiliation with the West, suggesting that they would comply with Western nations’ interests if elected.
During a rally in Istanbul’s Umraniye district, Erdogan referenced comments made by US President Joe Biden in January 2020, which were published by the New York Times while he was campaigning for the White House.
Biden had expressed that the United States should support Erdogan’s opponents to defeat him democratically and should not endorse a coup. Ankara had condemned these comments at the time as “interventionist.”
“Joe Biden gave the order to topple Erdogan; I know this. All my people know this,” Erdogan, 69, claimed. “If that is the case, then tomorrow the ballots will give a response to Biden too,” he added.
Accusations ahead of Turkey polls
Erdogan also criticized Kilicdaroglu for his stance on Russia, highlighting Moscow as an important partner for Turkey. He stated, “Russia has been one of our most important allies regarding agricultural products.”
The close ties between Ankara and Moscow under Erdogan have raised concerns among Turkey’s Western allies. While Turkey is a member of NATO, which has strongly supported Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, it has not imposed sanctions on Russia.
Kilicdaroglu, in an interview with Reuters on Friday, claimed that his party possessed concrete evidence of Russian involvement in the dissemination of “deep fake” online content ahead of the elections.
However, he did not present the evidence, and Reuters could not independently verify his claims. Kilicdaroglu also expressed his intention to maintain good relations with Moscow if elected as president.
As the election approaches, anticipation and excitement are mounting among the Turkish population, with some concerns over potential rising tensions or even violence following the announcement of the results.
While there has been speculation about Erdogan’s possible reaction if he loses, the president on Friday stated in a televised interview that he would accept the election’s outcome, regardless of the result.
On Saturday, Kilicdaroglu, a 74-year-old former civil servant, did not hold a rally but visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara. He was accompanied by a crowd of supporters, each carrying a single carnation to place on the tomb.
