Just a few days before Turkey’s highly anticipated presidential election, Muharrem Ince, one of the four candidates, has decided to withdraw from the race, presenting an unexpected twist to the political landscape. The departure of Ince has come at a crucial time for opposition parties, who see an excellent opportunity to unseat Recep Tayyip Erdogan by consolidating their support behind a single candidate.
During a press conference, Ince cited several reasons for his withdrawal. He mentioned the circulation of fabricated explicit images that had severely damaged his reputation, and he expressed disappointment in enduring relentless character assassination for 45 days while criticizing Turkish authorities for their failure to protect his integrity. He revealed that doctored videos and images, including one where his face was superimposed onto an Israeli pornographic video, had been circulated by individuals claiming to be part of the opposition.
Ince’s withdrawal significantly bolsters the prospects of Erdogan’s primary rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is a 74-year-old leader known for his moderate approach. Kilicdaroglu leads an alliance of six opposition parties and currently enjoys 49% of the vote, according to recent polls. While Muharrem Ince’s own support in the polls was relatively modest, opposition supporters hope that his withdrawal will tip the balance in favor of Kilicdaroglu, potentially securing him the majority needed for an outright victory on Sunday.
Erdogan has held power in Turkey for more than two decades, but his administration faces numerous challenges, including a staggering inflation rate of 44%. Moreover, the government has faced criticism for its handling of a devastating double earthquake in February, which claimed over 50,000 lives across 11 provinces.
If none of the candidates manage to secure 50% of the vote, a run-off election will be held two weeks later. Inca, 59, previously achieved 30% of the vote as a candidate for the main opposition Republican People’s Party five years ago. However, he parted ways with the party the following year, embarking on his own path in Turkish politics.
