The opposition alliance in Turkey, consisting of six parties, has officially announced Kemal Kilicdaroglu as their candidate for the upcoming presidential election. While he may not possess the same level of charisma as Erdogan, the political climate in Turkey is currently unfavorable for the incumbent government. Let’s examine Kilicdaroglu’s chances of defeating Erdogan in the election.
Who is Kilicdaroglu?
Kemal Kilicdaroglu is a well-known Turkish politician who has been in the country’s political scene for over a decade. He is best known as the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the largest opposition party in Turkey. Kilicdaroglu is widely regarded as a champion of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Turkey.
Early Life and Education
Kilicdaroglu was born on December 17, 1948, in Tunceli, located in the eastern region of Turkey, as one of seven children in a family belonging to the Alevi religious minority. His father worked as a deeds officer, while his mother was a housewife.
He graduated from the Ankara Academy of Economics and Administrative Sciences ( now Gazi University) in 1971.
Profession Career
Upon completing his studies, Kemal Kilicdaroglu began his career as a junior account specialist in the Ministry of Finance in 1971. He worked his way up to become an accountant and was later sent to France for further professional training. In 1983, he was appointed as the deputy director general of the Revenues Department in the same ministry, where he worked closely with Prime Minister Turgut Ozal. In 1991, he became the director-general of the Social Security Organization for Artisans and Self-Employed (Bağ-Kur), and the following year, he was appointed as the director-general of the Social Insurance Institution (Turkish: Sosyal Sigortalar Kurumu [tr], abbreviated SSK).
In recognition of his outstanding performance as a civil servant, Kılıçdaroğlu was named “Civil Servant of the Year” by the weekly periodical Ekonomik Trend in 1994. After serving as the director-general of the Social Insurance Institution, he retired from the position in January 1999.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu also worked as a professor at Hacettepe University in Ankara. He also served as a board member of Işbank, the largest private bank in Turkey in terms of its assets.
Entry into Politics
In 2002, Kilicdaroglu entered politics and became a member of parliament for the CHP in Istanbul. He rose through the ranks of the party quickly and was appointed as the Secretary-General of the CHP in 2008. In May 2010, he was elected as the leader of the CHP, succeeding Deniz Baykal, who resigned after a sex tape scandal.
Istanbul Mayoral candidate
On January 22, 2009, the leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Deniz Baykal, announced Kemal Kilicdaroglu as the party’s mayoral candidate for the 2009 local elections. Kilicdaroglu campaigned on a platform of clean politics and promised to investigate corruption allegations against the incumbent mayor from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Kadir Topbas. He also pledged to prioritize the needs of workers in Istanbul and challenged Topbas to a televised debate.
Despite his efforts, Kilicdaroglu lost the election to Topbaş, securing only 37% of the votes compared to Topbaş’s 44.7%.
Transformation of the CHP
Under Kilicdaroglu’s leadership, the CHP has undergone significant ideological and organizational transformation. Kilicdaroglu has moved the party away from its traditional Kemalist roots and has embraced a more liberal and progressive agenda. He has also worked to make the party more inclusive and transparent and has encouraged more women and young people to participate in politics.
Challenges Faced
Kilicdaroglu’s leadership has not been without challenges. He has faced criticism from some within the party who believe he has not been radical enough in his reforms. He has also been accused of being too conciliatory towards President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), especially during the failed military coup in July 2016.
Achievements
Despite the challenges, Kilicdaroglu’s political career has been marked by several notable achievements. In 2010, he launched a highly publicized campaign against corruption in the Turkish government, which helped to expose several high-profile cases of graft and embezzlement. He has also been a strong advocate for gender equality and has worked to increase the representation of women in politics.
Presidential Election and Beyond
Kilicdaroglu has been re-elected as the leader of the CHP several times since he first took office in 2010. In the 2018 presidential election, he ran as the opposition candidate against Erdogan but lost by a significant margin. Despite this defeat, Kilicdaroglu remains committed to his vision of a democratic and inclusive Turkey and continues to be a leading voice in the country’s political opposition.
In stark contrast to the fiery populist persona of Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu is known for his soft-spoken, bookish demeanor.
Reservation about Kilicdaroglu’s candidacy
Kilicdaroglu’s nomination was fraught with difficulties as the second largest partner in the alliance, the Good Party, initially withdrew their support due to their preference for more dynamic candidates like Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, or Mansur Yavas, the mayor of Ankara. Nonetheless, the Good Party returned and the alliance reached a compromise, with Kilicdaroglu being supported by the two mayors in the role of vice presidents.
The opposition alliance is optimistic that if Kilicdaroglu emerges victorious, he will govern with a more conciliatory approach, demonstrating restraint in the exercise of his power.
Can Kilicdaroglu win the election?
The response is a mixture of positive and negative aspects.
According to Samim Akgonul, a historian and political scientist at the University of Strasbourg, Kemal Kilicdaroglu holds a strong position and has a chance of winning if a regular election period takes place where political parties and their leaders campaign and face the judgment of the electorate. Akgonul stated to Euro News that there is a general sense of weariness and dissatisfaction with the current power, not just among the opposition but throughout society. Additionally, there is a broad coalition against Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which is a key development.
Read also: Can Erdogan lose the 2023 election?
Akgönul, however, pointed out that not all opposition followers are backing Kilicdaroglu’s candidacy due to his status as an old guard who fails to embody the fresh perspective and youthful energy desired by some. Given his advanced age of 74 years, he does not personify the idea of newness, and his name is already familiar to the electorate, Akgönul observed.
Galip Dalay, a senior fellow at the Middle East Council, stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that the opposition alliance has the potential to win the upcoming elections, irrespective of the candidate, if they can work together and campaign effectively, similar to their successful collaboration during the 2019 local elections.
Dalay emphasized that the alliance’s success would depend on maintaining internal synergy and harmony. He also suggested that the People’s Democratic Party, a left-wing and pro-Kurdish party, which is not a member of the alliance, could indirectly support them.
