Alevi votes no piece of cake for İhsanoğlu, CHP
The main opposition Republican Peopleâs Party (CHP) has been having a hard time since the announcement of Ekmeleddin Ä°hsanoÄlu as a joint candidate for the presidential election in August.
Different groups within the party, from nationalists to socialists, have been criticizing the idea of having a joint candidate with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), as well as nominating Ä°hsanoÄlu himself.
One of the toughest reactions came from the Alevis, most of who vote for the CHP, with two of the countryâs largest Alevi organizations calling for the community to not vote for Ä°hsanoÄlu.
âAs Alevis, we do not think Ä°hsanoÄlu, who comes from a Turkish-Islamic background, will be a suitable candidate for presidency,â Müslüm DoÄan, chairman of Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association, was quoted as saying in AkÅam daily. DoÄan added Ä°hsanoÄlu is âcloser to the MHPâ than the CHP and Alevis âwill not vote for a MHP candidate.â
Alevi BektaÅi Federation chair Fevzi GümüŠrecalled that Ä°hsanoÄlu was once an advisor to Alparslan TürkeÅ, the founder of the MHP and the legendary leader of the nationalist movement in Turkey.
âÄ°hsanoÄlu, who does not meet public expectations, cannot be the Alevisâ candidate,â he said.
In such an environment, KılıçdaroÄlu, an Alevi himself, stands tall behind Ä°hsanoÄlu, arguing he is a candidate that fits the partyâs profile.
Similar reactions rose from the Alevi community when the CHP nominated Mansur YavaÅ of the MHP as their candidate for the mayor of Ankara in the March 30 local elections. Many Alevis believe MHP members were behind the vicious...
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