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Türkiye – The crowd stretches as far as the eye can see. A week before the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey, the various candidates clash with huge gatherings. However, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, the outgoing president’s main opponent, is finding it difficult to do as well as Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This Sunday, May 7, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) figure actually gathered more than 1.7 million people in Istanbul, according to Turkey’s Anatolu Agency press agency. A real tour de force.
The Turkish head of state chose the site of the former Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, which has been deserted since 2018, for his meeting this Sunday. towards him, and as you can see in the video at the top of the article, a veritable human tide, fervently waving tens of thousands of flags and effigies in his honor. The AKP, which had previously proclaimed the “meeting of the century”, had chartered 10,000 coaches from 39 communities in the country especially for this occasion.
“Istanbul! If you say yes, we’ll definitely win!”, the Turkish President began in particular. “In 21 years we have created jobs and enabled 21 million people to make a living from their work. We have 10.5 million new houses built (…) and gave families a roof,” he declared, before shattering the record of his opponents: “They didn’t even plant a tree, lay a single stone. We transformed this country.”
Opposition leads in latest polls
The day before, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu wanted to breathe a breath of fresh air in front of tens of thousands of equally enthusiastic supporters, albeit infinitely fewer in number. “Are you ready for change? Are you ready to bring democracy? ‘, the president of the CHP party, founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the opposition’s first political force, started in front of a flood of Turkish flags. “Together we will lead the country with reason and virtue. I’ll bring spring, I promise! ‘ he assured.
Erdogan, 69, of whom 20 are in power, and Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, 74, at the head of a six-party coalition, are both hoping for a first-round victory on May 14. For the first time in 20 years, the outgoing president is seriously threatened by the opposition coalition, which has been banned since Wednesday and led the way in recent polls. According to the electoral law, both can still meet next Saturday, on the eve of the vote, in Ankara, the political capital.
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