Erdogan Raises Concerns Over Earthquake Zone
Turkey’s electorate went to the polls on May 14th to cast their votes for both the presidential and parliamentary elections. In the earthquake-stricken regions, citizens predominantly chose President Erdogan and the People’s Alliance. This choice was evaluated by CNN TÜRK Special News Chief Fulya Öztürk, Betimar Research Company Chairman of the Board Gürkan Duman, and Nişantaşı University Faculty Member Coşkun Başbuğ in a live broadcast on CNN TÜRK.
President Erdogan’s re-election with a majority of the votes was not a surprise to the political analysts. The high turnout showed that the Turkish electorate is still engaged in the democratic process and believes that their vote can make a difference.
The earthquake that hit the region a few days before the election brought the focus on the emergency response and the government’s efforts to rebuild the affected areas. The ruling party’s ability to manage the crisis and provide assistance to the citizens probably helped to secure their votes.
However, the opposition parties criticized the government’s response, arguing that it was inadequate and slow. The main opposition candidate, who came second in the presidential election, has pledged to improve the response to future disasters if elected in the future.
Overall, the Turkish electorate has shown their support for President Erdogan and the ruling party. The opposition parties will have to regroup and devise new strategies to appeal to a broader base of voters in the next election.
