Turkey’s Election Offers a Glimmer of Hope for the Left
JacobinDec 25, 2022
The Facts
Just days before Turkey’s Sunday elections, presidential candidate Muharrem Ince announced he was dropping out of the race in a move that many believe will benefit Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Ince was one of the four candidates on the presidential ballot, but he was never considered a legitimate threat to win the office, with polls showing his support hovering around 2-4%. His name will still remain on the ballot since most have already been printed.
The Spin
Narrative A
Ince made the right decision to withdraw from Sunday’s crucial presidential election. He knows how important this race is for the future of Turkey, and he seems to be putting grudges aside for the greater good. Ince withstood false attacks and acted with grace amid a slanderous campaign. This move will be a major boon for Kilicdaroglu in this election and for Turkey.
Narrative B
Ince’s withdrawal from the race comes at a very peculiar time with the election just days away as he deals with multiple scandals. He wasn't a popular candidate, and people on both sides of the political aisle had negative feelings toward him. It's likely that he decided to try to save face by withdrawing his candidacy to avoid taking any votes away from Erdoğan’s opposition.
