Can Election Campaigns Remain Civil?
Meral Akşener, the leader of the IYI Party in Turkey, spoke at a rally in Istanbul criticizing the use of insults and slander in political election campaigns. She emphasized that elections should be joyful occasions for voters and not marred by divisive language. Akşener also accused the ruling AK Party of stealing the hope of the youth and ignoring the real problems facing Turkey. She promised to create job opportunities and regulate salaries according to real inflation if her party came to power. Akşener also expressed her commitment to finding the murderers of young academic Sinan Ateş, who was killed in Ankara. She called on voters to unite behind her and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the opposition candidate for president, and give them 1 vote each in the upcoming election. The rally ended with Akşener introducing her party’s Denizli deputy candidates.
