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Many voters in southeast Turkey lost their homes, valuables and loved ones in February’s earthquakes. Still, they came out to vote Sunday in what analysts say could be the country’s most pivotal elections in decades. VOA’s Heather Murdock reports on the scene with videographer Yan Boechat.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptURKEY ELECTIONS VOSR
HEADLINE: VOA On the Scene: Southeastern Turkey Votes Amid Earthquake Ruins
TEASER: Voters came out to vote Sunday in what analysts say could be the country’s most pivotal elections in decades.
PUBLISHED AT: 05/14/2023 at 3:25 pm
BYLINE: Heather Murdock
DATELINE: GAZIANTEP REGION, TURKEY
VIDEOGRAPHER: Yan Boechat
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Page, SV
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 1:17
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[Many voters in southeast Turkey lost their homes, valuables and loved ones in February’s earthquakes. Still, they came out to vote Sunday in what analysts say could be the country’s most pivotal elections in decades. VOA’s Heather Murdock reports on the scene with videographer Yan Boechat. ]]
((STANDUP))
“It’s hard to overstate the suffering the people in southeastern Turkey have experienced in the past three months after earthquakes killed more than 50,000 people in what was the worst natural disaster in this region in 100 years.
((VOA VIDEO:))
((NARRATOR:))
But voters here came out in droves to Turkey’s elections, with many people saying the ballot is crucial, often for different reasons.
Some say they are confident their ruling party will stay in power, despite recent economic crises and criticism of the earthquake response. Others hope these elections will usher in a new government for the first time in decades.
In areas hardest hit by the earthquakes, people vote in emergency structures known as containers, that now house schools and many of the people who lost their homes.
Displaced families are also living in tents, with no knowledge of when or if their homes will be repaired.
At this polling station, opinions are divided, with voters arguing passionately for the ruling party and for the opposition parties.
((STANDUP))
“And some voters told us it’s hard to concentrate on elections right now because all they can see is darkness.”
((REPORTING FROM THE GAZIANTEP REGION OF TURKEY, HEATHER MURDOCK VOA NEWS.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)REPORTING FROM
THE GAZIANTEP REGION OF TURKEY
Embargo DateMay 14, 2023 17:28 EDT
Byline
HEATHER MURDOCK VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
