ISTANBUL: Sinan Ogan, a little-known hardline nationalist contender who received 5.2% of the vote in the initial presidential election on 14 May, has endorsed President Tayyip Erdogan in the runoff. This endorsement boosts Erdogan’s candidature and hinders opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Moreover, Analysts and the public surprised by Ogan’s “kingmaker” runoff role. He expressed his support for Erdogan at a press conference in Ankara, citing his campaign’s role in empowering Turkish nationalists. Ogan criticised Kilicdaroglu’s Nation Alliance for failing to convince him about the future and stressed the significance of fighting terrorism.
Erdogan’s ruling party alliance won a legislative majority with 49.5% of the vote against Kilicdaroglu’s 44.9%. This helps Erdogan extend his two-decade control in one of Turkey’s most important elections.
Ogan, a former academic and first-round presidential contender for a right-wing alliance led by the Victory Party, known for his anti-immigrant views in a country with the world’s largest refugee population. He pledged to eliminate two Kurdish parties and boost Turkish nationalists and secularists.
While, Kilicdaroglu, the Republican People’s Party (CHAP) candidate and leader of a six-party alliance, has promised to reverse many of Erdogan’s extensive domestic, foreign, and economic policies, including addressing the cost-of-living crisis caused by an unorthodox economic programme.
Erdogan hailed Ogan’s backing, praising their shared ideas on combatting terrorism and Turkic relations. Erdogan also addressed Ogan’s anti-immigrant position, saying the government has plans to resettle one million refugees in Syria, which might be discussed with the Syrian government after the runoff.
Erdogan’s campaign
Ogan’s backing may strengthen Erdogan’s campaign but divide Ogan’s supporters. Victory Party will disclose its runoff position separately. Ogan’s impressive early vote performance startled pollsters who projected Kilicdaroglu as the frontrunner, indicating a nationalist uprising.
Moreover, Kilicdaroglu has pledged to return all migrants in the runoff. Over the weekend, the Justice Party, a member of Erdogan’s alliance, endorsed Kilicdaroglu.
Some disillusioned voters skip the runoff. One German Ogan fan expressed her hesitancy to vote for any candidate due to their ties to terrorist organisations.
Ogan expelled from the nationalist MPH after a failed 2015 leadership candidature.
