Kemal Kilicdaroglu is in a race against Turkey’s strongman, and against time
rarely talks about his personal life, and even less about his religion. But late last month, the man hoping to replaceas Turkey’s president recorded a video in which he acknowledged he belonged to the Alevi sect, a minority that continues to face prejudice. The move was widely perceived as an attempt to pre-empt attacks by Mr Erdogan against his opponent’s faith. “We have to respect different beliefs, identities and lifestyles,”at his office in Ankara, asked why he decided to make the video.
Such rhetoric has not fallen on deaf ears. On May 7th stones lobbed by nationalist protesters smashed the windows of a campaign bus carrying themayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu. Some 17 people were injured. The opposition called the attack, which took place in Erzurum, a city in eastern Turkey, a government provocation. Mr Erdogan said Mr Imamoglu incited the violence.
Yet Mr Kilicdaroglu hopes to win in round one. “Turkey cannot afford to lose any more time,” he says, referring to the need to tame inflation and corruption, breathe life into the Turkish lira and attract foreign investment. “We need to restore confidence, abroad and at home.” Mr Kilicdaroglu has already done a fair deal of uniting. Over the past few years he has brought together the, which he has headed since 2010, the nationalist Good Party and four smaller parties to form the Nation Alliance. He has also transformed his own party. In the 2000s, the staunchly secularrefused to have anything to do with the elected president because his wife wore an Islamic headscarf, and refused to discuss new rights for the Kurds, Turkey’s biggest ethnic minority.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Turkey elections: Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu offer stark choices for presidencyTurks are at a historic turning point, facing dramatically different visions of their country.
Consulte Mais informação »
Team bosses on accepting 11th F1 team: 'Like turkeys voting for Christmas'Christian Horner says accepting a new F1 team onto the grid and diluting the prize pot is 'like turkeys voting for Christmas'.
Consulte Mais informação »
Ambulance workers in south east England strike again over payAmbulance workers in the south east of England are set to strike for 10 hours today. Members of Unite working at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust and South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust will walk out from midday to 10pm today.
Consulte Mais informação »
U.S. Gasoline Prices Dip Again | OilPrice.comThe U.S. average gasoline price has fallen for the third week in a row, falling another 7.5 cents per gallon from a week ago, according to GasBuddy data.
Consulte Mais informação »