Presidential election in Turkey: in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Erdoğan can count on his supporters

As the Turks vote this Sunday for the second round of the presidential election, Europe 1 went to the Fatih district in Istanbul, in the stronghold of Erdoğan. Despite the economic crisis and the authoritarian turn of the regime, his supporters continue to support the outgoing president.

He could remain in power in Türkiye for 5 more years. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is favorite for a new mandate, while the Turks are called to the polls for the second round of the presidential election, this Sunday. The outgoing head of state was almost five points ahead of his main opponent in the first round. Europe 1 went to the Fatih district in Istanbul, Erdoğan’s stronghold, where the majority of the ballots slipped into the ballot boxes are for him.

“They say he’s a dictator, but if he was, they couldn’t tell”

Fatih is a conservative stronghold in the historical peninsula of Istanbul. It is the cradle of the powerful Turkish religious brotherhoods which support Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Despite the economic crisis and the authoritarian turn of the regime, Hadjer, in his fifties, defends his president against criticism. “They complain about the price of potatoes and onions, but you can do without them. On the other hand, you cannot live without your country. They say he is a dictator, but if he was, they couldn’t tell,” she said.

In this very pious district, we appreciate President Erdoğan for his Islamo-conservative policy. Melih, a student, did not hesitate before slipping his ballot into the ballot box. “I voted Erdoğan”, assumes the young man. “In a country that is 80% or 90% predominantly Muslim, the veil was only completely allowed in public places five or six years ago. And that’s thanks to Erdoğan.”

The Turkish president multiplied his addresses to this conservative electorate during the campaign, repeating that he took his orders from God, defending the sanctity of the family and attacking LGBT people in all his meetings. In the first round, he won Fatih with 52% of the vote.

Source: Europe1

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