Caroline Baudry, edited by Alexandre Dalifard / Photo credit: BULENT KILIC / AFP
On Sunday, during the first round of the presidential election in Turkey, outgoing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his opponent Kemal Kiliçdaroglu failed to decide. The country will therefore have to hold its breath until May 28, the date of the second round. In the meantime, the opposition remains hopeful despite the polls.
Turkey is holding its breath until May 28, the date of the second round of the presidential election which will oppose outgoing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the social democrat Kemal Kiliçdaroglu. The head of state, in power for 20 years, won 49% of the vote, his rival only 44.9%. The outcome of the election looks very uncertain for the opposition and despite everything, some still want to believe it. For the occasion, Europe 1 went to Istanbul.
“I have hope”
“I will do everything for Kiliçdaroglu to win these elections”. Every meeting is now a pretext for Enes, 21, a waiter in a restaurant. When he wanders between tables or pauses on his phone, he wants to convince people to choose the Democratic candidate. How ? “By sharing its content on social networks. It is absolutely necessary that Turkish power be overthrown in the second round. God willing, Kiliçdaroglu will win the election. I hope so”, hopes the young man at the microphone of Europe 1. Like the 5.2 million young people who voted for the first time, he only knew Erdogan in power.
Regardless of the figures that give the outgoing president favorite, Muguet settles on the terrace, in the sun and displays his confidence. “From what I saw on television, our opposition candidate is well placed. He scored well. I’m looking forward to the second round. I’m hopeful,” says the young lady. She who counts on the hundred lawyers and citizens responsible for ensuring the sincerity of the ballot.