Election in Turkey: World press evaluates AKSENER’s move as potential support for ruling Erdogan

The statements of AKSENER, leader of IYI Party, one of the opposition parties about the joint presidential candidate of the Nation Alliance, were widely echoed in international news agencies and news websites.

In summary, Akşener’s move and hurting statements were evaluated as ‘this will make the opposition’s job harder’ and will be “potential support for Erdogan”.

The opposition of IYI Party Chairman Meral Akşener to to the presidential candidacy of CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu found wide coverage not only in Turkey but also in the world press. Foreign media interpreted the latest developments as ‘potential support’ for AKP Leader and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

SPLIT IN OPPOSITION BLOC COULD MEAN BIG ADVANTAGE FOR ERDOGAN

The Associated Press (AP) news agency announced Aksener’s statement with the headline ‘The Turkish opposition is divided because of the common candidate’. Pointing to the elections, AP pointed out that ‘a split in the opposition bloc could mean a big momentum for Erdogan’. Noting that support for Erdogan had recently been ‘damaged by the weak economy and his government’s response to earthquakes’, AP recalled that ‘many people said Erdogan was facing the toughest challenge ever’.