Turkish presidential candidate Muharrem Ince withdraws from race

Withdrawal to become major boost for Erdogan's main challenger

Turkey Elections Muharrem Ince | AP

A candidate in Turkey's presidential election, Muharrem Ince, announced his withdrawal from the race on Thursday, a move that's likely to benefit President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main challenger.

The candidate who pulled out, Muharrem Ince, is the leader of the centre-left Homeland Party. He was one of four contenders running in Sunday's presidential election. Turkey holds a parliamentary election on the same day.

Ince had faced criticism for potentially ciphering support from the six-party Nation Alliance, which has united behind the candidacy of opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, and thereby forcing the presidential contest into a second round. “I am withdrawing from the race,” Ince told reporters in front of his party's headquarters, following weeks of resisting calls to step down. “I am doing this for my country.”

Erdogan, who has led Turkey as prime minister and president since 2003, is facing the most challenging election of his 20-year rule. Polls have given Kilicdaroglu a slight lead over Erdogan, although neither candidate was expected to garner more than 50 per cent of the vote required to be elected in the first round.

Ince had polled at around 8 per cent of the vote when his candidacy was first announced, but his popularity had since dropped to around 2 per cent, according to opinion surveys. The firebrand politician didn't throw his support behind another candidate, but analysts said his withdrawal was likely to boost Kilicdaroglu's chances.

Nation Alliance members welcomed Ince's decision to step down, expressing hope for a first-round victory Sunday. Kilicdaroglu called on Ince to join the opposition coalition.

“Let's leave old resentments, old grievances behind,” Kilicdaroglu wrote on Twitter.

Erdogan meanwhile, said he regretted Ince's decision. “Of course, it is impossible to understand why he withdrew. Honestly, I was saddened," Erdogan said during an election rally in Ankara. “Now, we will continue (this race) with the remaining candidates. What matters is the decision of my people.”

Ince said the Homeland Party, which he formed in 2021, would still participate in the parliamentary election, and he called for votes for the party from each household.

The 58-year-old former physics teacher ran against Erdogan in the 2018 presidential election on the ticket of Kilicdaroglu's CHP party. He had garnered around 30 per cent of the vote but later broke away from the party.

“They will have no excuses if they lose the election,” Ince said, in an apparent reference to Kilicdaroglu.

Remaining in the presidential race with Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu is 55-year-old former academician Sinan Ogan, who has the backing of an anti-migrant party. 

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