Posted on 03/31/2019 10:35:02 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
ISTANBUL — Voters headed to the polls across Turkey on Sunday in local elections that are seen as a critical test of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s nationwide popularity, especially in large cities, at a moment when Turks are expressing growing anxiety because of an economic downturn.
A crackdown on the government’s opponents that intensified after a failed coup in 2016 has added to the domestic unease and has also troubled Turkey’s relationships with western allies, causing sharp fluctuations in the Turkish lira and putting investors on edge.
Erdogan’s own position is secure. But the economic crisis and polls that suggest his ruling Justice and Development Party faces a strong opposition challenge in mayoral races in Ankara, the capital, and Istanbul have prompted Erdogan to treat the campaign as an existential fight.
Erdogan has raced around the country in recent weeks, attending campaign rallies at a punishing clip. His bellicose rhetoric — red-meat appeals to his conservative Muslim base and menacing language leveled at his opponents — has underscored the stakes in the election.
“It is a matter of survival,” Erdogan said of the poll, at a rally in a working-class district of Istanbul on Friday.
In an election day note, the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party, or HDP, warned of an “uneven” playing field and said the government had arrested dozens of its members, including candidates, in the weeks leading up the election.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
If anyone Erdogan disapproves of gets elected, they’ll be branded a Gulen follower, and soon taken care of.
Erdogan is in control of the levers of power.
Sounds right, wouldn’t bet against you.
Elections aren’t too challenging for dictators.
Riiiiiiight.
It’s not who votes, it’s who counts the votes.
From this morning on Twitter, gives clear sense of how Erdoooo is reacting to any criticism:
Rojava @AzadiRojava
https://twitter.com/AzadiRojava/status/1112333356136583169
Elections in Turkey are so ‘free’ that opposition party HDP is not even mentioned in the election results. Erdogan’s Elections are a #TotalFarce. Turkey is a full blown #Dictatorship
Frank S Wise @FrankSW_TX
https://twitter.com/FrankSW_TX/status/1112344567628685312
ERDOGAN’S RIGGED ELECTION
Erdogan Regime police made everyone out of voting room but Erdogan’s AKP officials in Gaziosmanpasa Istanbul.
And the officials rigged the votes. Haberdar
Kevok Foundation @FoundationKevok
https://twitter.com/FoundationKevok/status/1112290028162568192
Kevok Foundation Retweeted Selahattin Demirtas
the real democratic president. drawing in prison. #FreeHDP #WeAreDemirtas #YaMeYe #BijiHDP
Erik Meyersson @emeyersson
https://twitter.com/emeyersson/status/1112230750491983873
Turkey’s 1st local elections under its autocratic institutional system is today. The issue at hand today isnt whether the elections are free & fair (they’re not) but how much legitimacy the gov is willing to forego to ensure it retains power. Even autocrats need legitimacy.
RebwarR @RebRw
https://twitter.com/RebRw/status/1112294297334964224
We are winning!
AKP & MHP racist & expansionistic coalition will damage the whole region, but will definitely harm good and democratic Turks even more.
Today, despite harsh political conditions, people courageously go out and vote for a democratic Turkey for everyone! Peace!
Frank S Wise @FrankSW_TX
ERDOGAN’S RIGGED ELECTION
https://twitter.com/FrankSW_TX/status/1112352226238976000
The votes were stolen in Gaziosmanpasa Istanbul by Erdogan Regime.
Ateist Salyangoz
Gilgo -Exclusive Election Broadcast @GforGilgo
https://twitter.com/GforGilgo/status/1112287457771507719
In Siirt, also Kurdish city where voter records were erased, police and soldiers transported from Turkish cities by some 45 buses, voted in the morning. Some of them are claimed to have spent the night in mosques, as there is no room left in hotels and dormitories in the City.
Rojava @AzadiRojava
Rojava Retweeted Gilgo -Exclusive Election Broadcast
https://twitter.com/AzadiRojava/status/1112345522000543744
Follow Gilgo for more vids like this one below from the ‘free’ elections in Turkey where AKP Erdoganistas even started shooting @ Kurdish voters
Steve Sweeney @SweeneySteve
https://twitter.com/Evilnihil/status/1112350688279855105
Police have attacked Erdi’s polling station In the Yeilova district of Erdi (Erci, Wan province), a stronghold of the HDP. AKP supporters have threatened voters. There was a verbal confrontation, whereupon riot police occupied the polling station #TurkeyElections2019
anything that weakens this Islamic jerk (Erdoban) is worth while considering, encouraging.. he is very militarily provocative and appears headed maybe towards igniting an even bigger war in Syria
Look carefully, fellow FReepers. Olive oil, dates, grape leaves, hummus,m apricots, etc.
But also at Walmart and Target, MANY clothes are now imported from Turkey. DON'T BUY THEM. If you do, you are supporting a tyrant who has occupied Northern Syria, driven every Armenian out, and wants to establish a new Muslim Caliphate.
Hey, if it weren't for all those political adversaries creating an atmosphere of intolerance for dictatorship, Erdogan wouldn't have to do all this negative campaigning and locking up people without trial. Thanks CondoleezzaProtege.
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