REPORT

Turkey: opposition wants to believe in Kemal Kiliçdaroglu victory

Audio 01:40

In Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue, the CHP, the main opposition party, ended the campaign in a festive way, buoyed by the hope of a victory for its candidate in the first round. © Guilhem Delteil / RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The presidential and parliamentary elections will be held this Sunday, May 14 in Turkey. The election is close between the two leading candidates, outgoing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in power for 20 years, and Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, who has managed to rally the opposition. He is the one who is leading the polls. And his supporters want to believe that the withdrawal in extremis of another candidate, Muharrem Imce on Thursday, increases his chances of winning in the first round.

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With our special envoys in Istanbul, Guilhem Delteil and Hasan Dizman

In the middle of Istiklal Avenue, Istanbul's commercial lung, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu's CHP has set up a small counter. Activists dance and distribute Turkish flags to passers-by. There is a festive atmosphere.

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I am very optimistic. These elections make me very excited! " says Ayse Demir. Dressed in a blue vest, the color of the party, she is convinced of the victory of her candidate on Sunday evening. A conviction acquired even before the withdrawal of Muharrem Imce. "I don't think it changes anything. Whether Muharem Imce was in the race or not, we would have won. And we're going to win! " she says.

Shared optimism

Among CHP supporters, optimism is widely shared. But for many, the smile is still wider since Thursday afternoon. Bahar is a hopeful student who will vote for the first time on Sunday. "I already thought it was possible. But now, with the withdrawal of Muharrem Imce, our chances are greater," she said.

Yigit Belecen agrees. For the 19-year-old, the withdrawal of Muharrem Imce should facilitate Kemal Kiliçdaroglu's victory. "His supporters are not very numerous, but I hope that most of them will support Kiliçdaroglu," says the young man. The latest polls, conducted before Muharrem Imce's withdrawal, placed the opposition leader less than one point short of an absolute majority in the first round.

► Also listen: Can the Turkish opposition win the presidential election?

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Read on on the same topics:

• Turkey
• Recep Tayyip Erdogan