Erdoğan is not interested in second round of elections

The presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Turkey on August 10. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has nominated Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as its presidential candidate. The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have nominated Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu. The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) has nominated Selahattin Demirtaş. If no candidates receives over 50 percent of the vote, the second round will be held on August 24.

Vestnik Kavkaza discussed the coming elections with Associate Professor at the Ankara University of Economics and Technology Togrul Ismail.

- The AKP has nominated Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, what can he do for Turkey as the new president?

- The nomination of Erdoğan is indeed a serious matter. He served as prime minsiter for two terms and now he can either quit politics or run for the presidency, as Turkish law prohibits him from heading the cabinet for a third time. The AKP and Erdoğan himself have decided that he should run for president.

The coming elections will be the first ones in which the president will be elected by popular vote. This means that the status is quite different. Erdoğan wanted to transform Turkey into a presidential republic, but he couldn't secure the necessary number of votes in the parliament. I think, if elected president, he will do his best to finish this transformation.

- Does Erdoğan have a chance of winning in the first round or will the competition be too strong?

- The AKP received only 44 percent of the vote during the last parliamentary elections. This means that Erdoğan is unlikely to receive more than 45 percent. The crucial issue is possible support from the Kurds. They have enough votes to secure Erdoğan's victory. I think the competition will indeed be strong. Erdoğan's main opponent, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, is a prominent politician. His political position is very close to that of Erdoğan, he is a famous scholar and public figure, he is well-known throughout the whole world. He has never been accused of corruption or any crime. He is a very strong opponent. I think the opposition has made the right choice.

- Is it possible that the DTP, which has nominated Selahattin Demirtaş, will support Erdoğan in the second round?

- It will depend on the talks Erdoğan holds with the Kurdish side. I think Demirtaş is an interesting figure, but he cannot represent all leftist forces. If he dropped his nationalistic agenda, he would be able to become a single candidate of the left. Otherwise he has no chance of becoming an influential politican. However, Erdoğan is interested in the votes of the Kurdish people. It is very important for him. It may help him to win the second round of the vote. On the other hand, if he does not win in the first round his position will be damaged considerably. I believe he will manage to secure the votes of the Kurds. In the second round people normally vote for the candidate who received the majority of the votes. This means that the second round will be a serious challenge to Erdoğan. I think the opposition might unite against him.

- Can Erdoğan promise a federal system to the Kurds in order to secure their votes?

- Politics is a difficult thing. Anything is possible. There will be very serious negotiations. I don't know what agreements the parties will come to eventually. In any case, I think the whole situation isn't favourable for Erdoğan.