Unbeatable Erdogan? Turkey's president proves polls wrong with first-round lead

16.05.2023 - 07:57 france24.com

Why have Erdogan's voters shrugged off skyrocketing inflation, accusations of cronyism corruption – the kind that led to the collapse of buildings in earthquake zones – and the steady jailing of opponents and journalists?

They also stared down an opposition that managed to unite like never before, but gains in major cities and in parliament were not enough to win a majority.

What can Kemal Kilicdoroglu do over the next two weeks to again prove the pollsters wrong? Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Juliette Laurain and Imen Mellaz. Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Take international news everywhere with you!

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Juliette Laurain Alessandro Xenos France Turkey Syria

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In his victory speech, the 69-year-old newly re-elected President Erdogan pledged to unite a country deeply divided. Claiming 52.1 per cent of the run-off vote, Erdogan emerged victorious yet again. His challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, however, accused the President of deploying state machinery to his advantage, including the alleged denial of airtime on state television. Kilicdaroglu further claimed that Erdogan distributed money and gifts as campaign bribes. Gavin Lee of FRANCE24 delves into what prompted voters to support Erdogan once more in a thought-provoking conversation with Salim Cevik, an Associate at the Center for Applied Turkey Studies, housed within the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.