Turkish voters are voting for Erdogan in a time of crisis

Turks are heading to the ballot box for the second time in a fortnight on Sunday, with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on course to extend his rule into a third decade.

Erdogan dashed hopes in the first round of the presidential election on 14 May, defeating Kemal Kilikdaroglu, who is representing a six-party opposition coalition, and winning outright despite the severe cost of living crisis. falling short of the required majority.

In a pair of polls released this week, the 69-year-old president holds a wide lead against Kılıçdaroğlu.

Sunday’s vote has been billed by both Erdogan and Kilikdaroglu as a referendum on Turkey’s future. Kılıçdaroğlu has vowed to revive the economy by reversing many of Erdogan’s policies, while returning the country to a parliamentary democracy from the executive presidential system following a 2017 referendum.

Erdogan managed to retain support in the first round of the contest from his base of pious, conservative voters in the country’s Anatolian heartland, which has relied on family values, the fight against terrorism and his successes in giving Turkey a greater role on the world stage. insisted. Became leader in 2003. He also made several personal attacks against Kılıçdaroğlu, who has led the country’s largest opposition group, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), for 13 years.

The president’s parliamentary bloc, a coalition that includes his Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), also exceeded expectations, retaining its majority in the legislative branch.

“I support Erdogan 100 percent. If I could, I would vote for him 10 times,” said Melek, a 32-year-old mother who teaches Quran at a private religious school in Istanbul. “I grew up with the CHP mentality until I was 10 years old, and those of us who want to live an Islamic life have suffered a lot,” she said. “Erdogan has freed us.”

Kılıçdaroğlu, who initially ran a campaign promising “spring will come” after two decades under Erdoğan, has now switched to a more forceful, nationalistic tone. For example, the 74-year-old has promised to expel millions of immigrants, taking advantage of the frustration of many Turks over the more than 3 million Syrian refugees who have flown into the country in recent years.

“Of course I voted for Kılıçdaroğlu. He is defending secularism,” said Gulumsar, a retired teacher in Ankara. “I know the value of the republic.”

Nevertheless, Kılıçdaroğlu suffered a blow when nationalist powerbroker Sinan Ogan, who came third in the first round of elections, recently threw his support behind Erdoğan, calling on his voters to back the incumbent.

International election observers said that the first round of elections were largely free, but they also noted that the campaigns were not fair. Erdoğan relied heavily on state resources, providing gifts such as free gas and 10 GB of internet for students. He also increased the salaries of public sector employees and increased the minimum wage.

The country’s government-affiliated media provided wall-to-wall coverage of Erdogan’s events, including the opening of a Black Sea gas processing facility and the unveiling of a warship.

If Erdogan manages to win, giving him another five-year term as president, attention is expected to rapidly shift to the country’s $900 billion economy.

The lira hit a record low this week, breaching the 20 mark against the US dollar as investors fretted over Erdoğan’s unorthodox economic policies, which have included sharp rate cuts despite rampant inflation.

The decline in Turkey’s foreign exchange reserves, which has accelerated in recent weeks, has fueled a sense of concern among both international and local analysts.

Erdogan said this week that the country’s economy, financial system and banks remained “strong”, adding that unnamed Gulf states had provided funds to relieve pressure.