Has KILICDAROGLU declared his candidacy for presidential election in 2023?

As 2023 presidential (and deputy) elections, seen as a milestone for the future of Turkey approach, it seems that the current president of Turkey will be the presidential candidate of the ruling group (AK Party supported by MHP) once again – as clearly declared by the President, himself a short while ago. However, it has not been announced yet who will run from the opposition group to challenge Erdogan. This seems to be a major concern for the ruling party and its leader as they cannot start a campaign yet, to weaken the candidate to challenge them in election.

A prominent journalist (NECDET SARAÇ) has written a very interesting article answering the question “who will likely be the candidate of the opposition bloc”. Down below we share the first part of said article (originally titled “ERDOGAN represents yesterday and KILICDAROGLU represents tomorrow!”) with many thanks to the author for this important article

Original title: “ERDOGAN represents yesterday and KILICDAROGLU represents tomorrow!”

“When KILICDAROGLU’s presidential candidacy began to stand out, the number of CHP supporters, especially CHP executives, among those who most often used phrases starting with “KILICDAROGLU is the right name, but …” was quite many.

Even though KILICDAROGLU was given credit as the architect of the establishment of the National Alliance in 2018, the formation of a wider alliance although not clearly named, in the election in 2019, and the psychological superiority gained through the acquisition of 11 metropolitan municipalities in local elections, this did not rule out sentences that started with “but..” and continued with the emphasize “a candidate that will have a clear win…”

But only 3 months later, it is observed clearer today that KILICDAROGLU ‘s 12-minute group speech on April 26 was an important turning point both in giving a clear answer to these “hesitations” within the party and his nomination (for the presidential election).

The audience which stood up in that speech when KILICDAROGLU said, “The world has become like this not because of those who do evil, but because of those who watch this evil and do nothing”, emphasized ”there is no victory if there is no courage“ and added “I’m telling you clearly, either join me or get out of my way right now“, stood up again at a rally in BALIKESIR, last week this time and said to him “WE ARE WITH YOU.”

Almost all provincial and district managers of the region, especially BALIKESIR, BURSA and ISTANBUL, city council members and CHP deputies were at the meeting. At this rally, which I also attended, where I talked to a lot of party officials before and after, when KILICDAROGLU gave Turkey the message “Mafias, corrupt people, gangs of 5 members, baggers, drug barons, brokers etc… I’m calling out to you, to hell with you all! The smell of sewage is all over the place. We will clear this state of you… We will change this order! We will bring humanely and justly order without oppressor and oppressed“, the CHP organization said “Our candidate for President is KILICDAROGLU” in a way that leaves no room for any hesitation…

It is clearly seen that the self-confidence of KILICDAROGLU who has taken the organization behind him, has increased a lot, his hand has become stronger and this reflects in every move, his messages to be in the first place.

If the support of the 11 Metropolitan Mayors that we try to understand by reading between the lines turns into open support for nomination of KILICDAROGLU in the coming days without wasting much time, this wave will grow beyond expected, embracing all democracy forces that want change, including the HDP, the “six-party table” (opposition) to be in the first place…“

SOURCE: https://tele1.com.tr/erdogan-dunu-kilicdaroglu-yarini-temsil-ediyor-669527/
(continuation of the article in Turkish, on above link)