Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is the odd bird of Turkish politics. He rose to prominence as the leader of the fight against corruption.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu the candidacy was decided among the Turkish opposition at the “table of six parties”. Even though the table discussions dragged on and were already broken off, the selected candidate assured that an agreement had been reached.
– We will return prosperity, peace and joy to the country, said Kılıçdaroğlu and promised to govern the country by negotiating and seeking common understanding.
Kılıçdaroğlu can refer to his own past. Economist civil servant raised the reputation of an investigation into corruption (you move to another service)and a political career began in the early 2000s.
At the same time, the president of Turkey came to power Recep Tayyip Erdoğanwho in two months will have Kılıçdaroğlu as his challenger.
This was unanimously elected to the leadership of Turkey’s main Republican People’s Party (CHP) in 2010, after the party’s former leader had been sidelined by a sex scandal.
Kılıçdaroğlu continued the fight against corruption. International fame was brought by the more than four hundred kilometer foot march that Kılıçdaroğlu and his supporters did as a protest against the tightening grip of Erdoğan’s regime.
“Turkey’s Gandhi” has a reputation as a moderate man
Under the pressure of the coup attempt and growing authoritarianism that has characterized Turkish politics, Kılıçdaroğlu has maintained his reputation as a man of peace who never gets angry.
Because of this and his external nature, he is called the “Gandhi of Turkey”. Still, his composure has not protected him from attacks. Kılıçdaroğlu has been the target of abuse and even attempted armed attacks by extremist groups.
Turkey’s tightening grip on power has brought him a charge under the “disinformation law”, which can lead to a prison sentence of up to three years.
Kılıçdaroğlu, who was chosen as the opposition’s presidential candidate, is from eastern Anatolia, and belongs to the Alevi minority. His national background may bring him support among the Kurds, but drive away the most nationalist Turks.
Not everyone is convinced of Kılıçdaroğlu’s chances of succeeding in the presidential election. One of the opposition parties was on the verge of leaving the alliance, wanting to replace Kılıçdaroğlu with a candidate “who can beat Erdoğan”. The mayor of Istanbul was presented as an alternative Ekrem Imamoğluwhich he also faces a lawsuit.
The lack of charisma is estimated to weaken Kılıçdaroğlu’s chances in the struggle against the energetic Erdoğan. This has already emerged as the winner in many elections.
Still, in opinion polls, the popularity of the opposition even exceeds the support of the current administration. In Turkey’s current situation, Kılıçdaroğlu’s moderate reputation could make him an alternative to the country’s current president.