2023-05-14 18:43:02
In front of the Kavaklidere school in Ankara, Tahrik, 35, supports his grandmother to help him down the stairs to the polling station. Originally from the Black Sea region, the mischievous old lady with wrinkled cheeks has vivid memories of the deprivations of her childhood.
« Of course I will vote for Erdogan! “, she says, as if offended that we can question her confidence in the head of state. ” My grandmother told me how difficult the living conditions were when she was a child and how much the AKP (Justice and Development Party) improved the country “, comments Tahrik, while installing his grandmother in the passenger seat of his car. “ In the family, we all support the AKP. I took part in several meetings, and in particular the one in Ankara which was really incredible”he says, stars in his eyes.
An architect who grew up in Ankara, he recognizes the effects of the economic crisis, but sees it as a global problem: “ During the pandemic period, all sectors were affected by the economic crisis. But you know, here in Turkey nobody has ever really lived comfortably. There is certainly unemployment, but the economy is rather stable and the growth continues. »
Like all Turks, Tahrik closely follows opinion polls and does not see the potential for alternation with a good eye: “ We are talking about an opposition alliance which is delighted to appeal to the IMF, (…) which is in favor of autonomy in the South-East (Kurdish regions, editor’s note). » Bereaved by the devastating earthquake of February 6, the electoral campaign was short-lived but particularly virulent. More opposed than ever, the camps played on their differences by interposed symbols until the last day.
Erdogan at Hagia Sophia
In Ankara, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu went to the mausoleum of Atatürk to pay homage to the founder of the secular republic of Turkey. Recep Tayyip Erdogan chose to be in Istanbul, for a last prayer in the Hagia Sophia mosque, which he himself had converted into a place of worship in July 2020.
During the meeting in Istanbul on Sunday May 7, the outgoing president recalled all the achievements of his government in recent years. The development of the defense industry, with the emblematic Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones, is the pride of supporters of the “réis”. Aware that the economic crisis is weighing down his balance sheet, President Erdogan has multiplied countless economic promises, such as the new increase in the minimum wage and a period of free gas.
The opposition coalition, or “Table of Six”, campaigned on the strength of cooperation. ” It is by joining together that we will win”, had launched the mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas at the podium on May 6, during the meeting of his camp in Istanbul. ” spring will come repeats the coalition’s campaign piece, accompanied by posters of Kemal Kiliçdaroglu on a sky-blue background, evocative of appeasement.
“I feel a real desire for change”
North of Ankara, in the Etlik district, Yasemin, 32, leaves his polling station with a smile on his face. ” I participated in the opposition coalition meeting on Friday, and there was really a spring atmosphere, it was great, she rejoices. I live in Keçiören which is quite conservative, but lately I have felt a real desire for change, especially among young voters. There are also people around me who have always supported the AKP but who have changed their minds. They are tired of this atmosphere of permanent tension and the economic crisis,” she observes.
Like the various opposition voters interviewed, Yasemin is keen to know the election results. And to conclude: I know that everything will not change overnight in the country, it will take time, but if the opposition passes, then we will be rid of this stifling atmosphere and that would already be a huge relief. »
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