The Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu took a much sharper tone towards refugees more than ten days before the presidential elections. “As soon as I come to power, I will send all refugees home. Period,” Kilicdaroglu said on Thursday, speaking of ten million refugees in the country.
It was not immediately clear on which data he relied. According to the United Nations, there are 3.9 million refugees living in Turkey. Most are from Syria. The Social Democrat had spoken in recent months of repatriating the refugees “within two years” if he won the elections.
“Brought ten million refugees into the country themselves”
Head of State Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he will face in the second round, accused Kilicdaroglu of “voluntarily bringing 10 million refugees to the country”. If the government stays in power, there will be “another ten million refugees (…)”, Kilicdaroglu said in his speech. “There will be looting. The mafia and drug dealers will control the cities. The number of femicides will increase,” he warned.
Second election on May 28
In last Sunday’s presidential election, Kilicdaroglu finished behind Erdogan, who narrowly missed out on victory in the first round. With neither candidate receiving more than 50 percent of the vote, Kilicdaroglu and Erdogan will face each other in a second round on May 28. Against the background of allegations of manipulation in Sunday’s elections, Kilicdaroglu stated that he wanted to send at least one million election observers to the polls.
courting nationalists
Observers assume that the votes from the nationalist camp in particular will be decisive in the elections. Third-placed right-wing candidate Sinan Ogan received a good five percent in the first round. He links an election recommendation for Erdogan or Kilicdaroglu to commitments. He stands for anti-refugee policies and calls for an intensified “fight against terror”.
It is doubtful whether his voters will follow his recommendations. Election researcher Özer Sencar told the German Press Agency (dpa) that he assumed the majority of them would switch to the Erdogan camp anyway.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
