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Transcript/ScriptTURKEY ELECTONS WRAP
HEADLINE: Momentum Shifts Toward Erdogan as Turkey Heads to Presidential Runoff
TEASER: Erdogan tipped as a frontrunner in the presidential runoff as his coalition set to secure a parliamentary majority in setbacks for challenger, Kilicdaroglu
PUBLISHED AT: 05/15/2023 at 3:25pm
BYLINE: Dorian Jones
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER: BERKE BAS DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, LR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): ORIGINAL, REUTERS
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:39
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TV/R
UPDATE:))
((INTRO))
[[Turkey appears set for a presidential runoff after an inconclusive Sunday vote. But the political momentum seems to be with incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who narrowly failed to secure an absolute majority but is set to win a majority in parliament. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.]]
((NARRATOR))
Despite incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s falling just short of the required absolute majority to avoid a likely runoff, Sunday's vote was a reason for many Erdogan supporters to celebrate.
His challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu was widely tipped as the frontrunner in many opinion polls, but he lagged four percentage points behind Erdogan in preliminary results, despite soaring inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, coupled with accusations of a botched response to the earthquake.
Istanbul's Uskudar district, once a traditional Erdogan stronghold, is witnessing growing electoral opposition. It is a place Kilicdaroglu targeted with his broad electoral coalition. Reaction from voters is mixed.
[[RADIO VERSION: Local resident Merve who only wanted to be identified by her first name]]
((Merve, Uskudar District Resident - VOA ORIGINAL - female in Turkish))
“There is this Tayyip (Erdogan) mentality, you see. It's always been believed he will save this country. He will save this homeland. That logic is always there. I want to break that mentality a little bit. We should open our minds. Change is good. But people believe without him, there will be no roads, no bridges, the citizens will be hungry.”
Ismail and others are fishing for food or maybe some extra cash. He says he’s still coming to terms with Sunday's vote.
((Ismail, Uskudar District Resident --VOA ORIGINAL ((male in Turkish))
“We didn't expect it, and frankly, we were very hopeful that there would be a change, but again nothing has changed. So, we are shocked. I don't want to believe in the result.”
His friend Cem says he isn’t surprised but worries about the prospect of a second round of voting in a presidential runoff.
((Cem, Uskudar Resident --VOA ORIGINAL ((male in Turkish))
“I mean, the big fish swallowed the small fish again; it's as simple as that. Round 2 is something we don't like, but people are ready; what else can they do?”
((NARRATOR))
Voters on Sunday also voted in parliamentary elections which saw Erdogan's coalition predicted to secure a comfortable absolute majority. That, analysts say, gives Erdogan a decisive advantage in the upcoming presidential runoff on May 28.
[[RADIO VERSION: Sezin Oney is an analyst for PolitikYol news portal.]]
((Sezin Oney, PolitikYol - VOA ORIGINAL - female in English)) ((ZOOM))
“Because you would want the president and the parliament to be aligning in the same direction. So that's of course, that would be something detrimental for the opposition and positive for, on behalf of, Erdogan.”
((NARRATOR))
Kilicdaroglu faces a political mountain in the forthcoming campaign, with the political momentum appearing to shift toward Erdogan.
((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Istanbul
Embargo DateMay 15, 2023 18:51 EDT
Byline
Dorian Jones, for VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
