Ümit Özdağ, the chief of the far-right Victory Social gathering (ZP) Wednesday endorsed opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for Sunday’s presidential runoff over Kılıçdaroğlu’s pledge to ship again thousands and thousands of refugees in Türkiye.
Özdağ introduced his assist for Kılıçdaroğlu, the top of the Republican Folks’s Social gathering (CHP) and the contender of a six-party opposition bloc difficult Erdoğan, days after Sinan Oğan, the third-placed contender within the first spherical of the presidential election on Might 14, endorsed Erdoğan within the upcoming runoff.
Oğan, one other staunch anti-migration advocate, was the joint candidate of an alliance of small conservative events, led by Özdağ’s ZP.
Erdoğan obtained 49.5% of the votes within the first spherical of the presidential race – simply in need of the bulk wanted for an outright victory – in comparison with Kılıçdaroğlu’s 44.9%.
Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Growth Social gathering (AK Social gathering) and its allies additionally retained a majority within the 600-seat parliament – a improvement that will increase Erdoğan’s possibilities of re-election as a result of voters are prone to vote for him to keep away from a splintered authorities, in accordance with analysts.
In an obvious try to woo nationalist voters within the runoff, Kılıçdaroğlu hardened his tone final week, vowing to ship again refugees and ruling out any peace negotiations with the PKK if he’s elected.
Türkiye is residence to the world’s largest refugee group, together with 3.7 million Syrians who fled persecution and brutality of their nation when the civil battle broke out in 2011 after the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with sudden ferocity.
Whereas most Syrians in Türkiye are usually not eligible to vote, anti-migrant sentiment is operating excessive within the nation amid financial turmoil, together with excessive inflation, and the difficulty of the repatriation of migrants has was a major marketing campaign difficulty.
Kılıçdaroğlu and Özdağ additional uncovered a seven-point protocol that, amongst different issues, affirms their settlement on repatriating some 13 million migrants in Türkiye, the continuation of the combat in opposition to terrorist teams, and stresses to “by no means compromise on the nationwide, unitary and secular state based in 1924.”
“Overcoming Türkiye’s financial issues with out sending again 13 million refugees and unlawful migrants first and stopping extra from dashing in is unimaginable,” Özdağ informed reporters subsequent to a visibly happy Kılıçdaroğlu.
After calling for Turkish residents to assist their push to expel refugees, Özdağ revealed his celebration had first met with Numan Kurtulmuş, the deputy chair of the AK Social gathering to debate what Erdoğan’s administration would do regarding the refugee difficulty.
“What they informed us didn’t embrace sending refugees again. We spoke with (Mr.) Kılıçdaroğlu, who blatantly assured us refugees should be despatched again and that he would undertake this coverage,” Özdağ mentioned.
“Due to this fact, we now have come to an settlement with him that can make sure the protected return of Syrians in keeping with worldwide regulation and human rights, an answer that can unload an enormous burden off the Turkish financial system and make our streets protected once more,” he added.
The parameters of the 2 leaders’ protocol embrace a pledge to ship again Syrians dwelling in Türkiye inside “a yr at most,” proceed the “decided” combat in opposition to terror teams just like the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), PKK, and Daesh, and hold appointed trustees in place as a substitute of presidency officers discharged over alleged hyperlinks to mentioned teams.
Not an hour after their announcement, Kurtulmuş himself responded to Özdağ concerning their assembly and dismissed his claims as “fully false.”
“As we now have expressed in each our one-on-one assembly and joint press assertion, our authorities continues its complete efforts on the protected and voluntary repatriation of Syrian migrants with the utmost sensitivity,” Kurtulmuş mentioned on Twitter.
Opposite to the cruel rhetoric of politicians like Özdağ and Oğan, Erdoğan has led an all-embracing coverage towards Syrians who fled the brutal civil battle of their homeland for asylum in Türkiye over the previous decade.
The ruling administration additionally has been working lately to make sure the return of these keen to return to protected zones the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) established throughout northern Syria, whereas battling the PKK, its Syrian department, the YPG, in addition to remnants of Daesh by way of cross-border operations and backing reasonable Syrian opposition in opposition to Assad.