Turkish presidential candidate withdraws in boost to Erdogan’s main challenger
- Muharrem Ince of the Homeland Party, was criticised for splintering the votes of 6-party Nation Alliance, which is united behind Kemal Kilicdaroglu
- Recep Erdogan, who has led Turkey as prime minister and president since 2003, is facing the most challenging election of his 20-year rule
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.”
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.