Erdogan's bid to stay in power as Turkey's president just got harder
Candidate drops out, likely giving an edge to Erdogan's main rival ahead of Sunday's vote
A candidate in Turkey's presidential election announced Thursday that he was withdrawing from the race, a move that's likely to bolster President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main challenger.
Muharrem Ince, the leader of the centre-left Homeland Party, was one of four contenders running for president in the May 14 election. Turkey will also be holding a parliamentary election at the same time.
Ince had come under intense criticism for splintering the votes of the six-party Nation Alliance, which has united behind the candidacy of main opposition party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, and of possibly forcing the presidential race into a second round.
"I am withdrawing from the race," Ince told reporters in front of his party's headquarters. "I am doing this for my country."
Slight lead
Erdogan, who has led Turkey as prime minister and president since 2003, is facing the most challenging election of his 20-year rule. Polls had given Kilicdaroglu a slight lead over Erdogan, although neither candidate was expected to garner more than 50 per cent of the votes required to be elected in the first round.
"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 with the remaining candidates. What matters is the decision of my people."
Ince had polled around eight per cent of the vote when his candidacy was first announced, but his popularity ratings have since dropped to around two per cent, according to opinion surveys.
Ince said the Homeland Party, which he formed in 2021, would still run in the parliamentary elections, and he called for votes for the party "from each household."
The firebrand politician didn't say he was dropping out in favour of Kilicdaroglu, but analysts say his withdrawal is likely to benefit the Nation Alliance.
Nation Alliance members welcomed Ince's decision, and Kilicdaroglu called on him to join the opposition coalition.
"Let's leave old resentments, old grievances behind," Kilicdaroglu wrote on Twitter.
The 58-year-old former physics teacher had previously run against Erdogan in presidential elections in 2018, under the ticket of Kilicdaroglu's main opposition party, CHP. 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.