Candidate withdraws on the eve of the Turkish election and increases the opposition’s chances against Erdogan

“I withdraw my candidacy”, declared Ince, at a press conference.

In the latest polls, the 59-year-old leader of the Memleket (Fatherland) party appeared with between 2% and 4% of voting intentions.

Several senior members of his party have resigned in recent days, concerned that Ince's candidacy could prevent the main opposition candidate, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, from defeating Erdogan. The current president has been in power for 20 years.

Ince justified his decision, stating that the opposition alliance led by Kiliçdaroglu “will put all the blame on him” if he loses.

Then representing the Republican People's Party (CHP, social democrat), Incer was defeated in the first round in the 2018 elections against Erdogan. Later, he left this party, the main opposition, and launched his own movement in May 2021, a secular nationalist organization.

Kiliçdaroglu, who now chairs the CHP and also leads an alliance of six opposition parties, is in a good position against Erdogan, who is facing, for the first time in 20 years, a united opposition.

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