Turkey President Election: Kemal Kilikdaroglu, who is called ‘Gandhi of Turkey’, will compete with Erdogan

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Turkey’s divided opposition parties finally chose Kemal Kilikdaroglu as their candidate to contest the May presidential election against incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Kilicdaroglu is the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the main secular opposition party. According to polls, the country is passing through a peculiar situation amid polarization after two decades of Erdogan’s authoritarian rule. The country’s economic crisis and government errors during the massive earthquake in February are likely to leave Erdogan more vulnerable than in previous elections.

Kemal is known as ‘Gandhi of Turkey’

Huge crowds of supporters cheer Kilicdaroglu after he was chosen as the presidential candidate by the opposition coalition of six parties. Kilicdaroglu is known as “Gandhi Kemal” or “Gandhi of Turkey” for his striking resemblance to Indian civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi, Kilicdaroglu takes a different view than the fiery Erdogan. However, some allies fear that the 74-year-old and soft-spoken Kilicdaroglu doesn’t have the power to draw the crowds. At the same time, Kemal has assured his supporters that he will rule the country through consultation and consensus.

6 opposition parties supported

He said, “We are supporters of peace, our only goal is to take the country to the days of prosperity, peace and joy.” Meanwhile, Mitat Sansar, co-leader of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish HDP, said the party would support Kilikdaroglu after “frank and open” talks. Sansar said, “Our clear expectation is a transition to a stronger democracy. If we can agree on fundamental principles, we can support him in the presidential election.”

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