ISTANBUL: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured the endorsement of Sinan Ogan, an ultra-nationalist candidate whose third-place finish played a crucial role in forcing Turkey’s first-ever election runoff. Ogan’s 5.2 percent of the vote in the May 14 general election denied Erdogan an outright victory, marking the first time in his 20-year rule that he faced a second round of voting.
In a meeting with Erdogan on Friday, Ogan announced his support for the incumbent president in the upcoming runoff election on May 28. Addressing reporters in a nationally televised statement, Ogan expressed his backing for Erdogan as the candidate of the People’s Alliance.
Ogan has positioned himself as a staunch advocate of Turkish nationalism in line with the ideals of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the post-Ottoman republic. He has called for the immediate expulsion of millions of migrants and a tough stance against “terrorists,” referring to Kurdish groups seeking greater autonomy in Turkey’s southeast.
Turkey’s Election Runoff
Despite Ogan’s endorsement, analysts question the extent to which his voters will follow suit. His small party, which has only been active for a few months, appeals mostly to disaffected voters dissatisfied with both Erdogan and his main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Nevertheless, Ogan’s endorsement poses a challenge to Kilicdaroglu’s efforts to broaden his appeal among nationalist voters ahead of the runoff. Kilicdaroglu, in his first post-election appearance, adopted a more nationalist tone, vowing to repatriate “all the refugees” and accusing Erdogan of failing to protect Turkey’s borders and honor.
Erdogan, however, signaled that he would not make any concessions to secure Ogan’s support. Even a fraction of Ogan’s supporters could potentially extend Erdogan’s rule until 2028.
The second round of voting will determine the final outcome of the Turkish election, and Erdogan’s bid for another term hangs on garnering additional support from voters in a fiercely contested race.
