Victory Party

A strong vote of parliamentary confidence in an environment of extreme political volatility was given to the government as the state budget for 2025 received 159 positive votes, the most in five years.

An annual ritual held on every Aug. 15 in the Sümela Monastery in the northern province of Trabzon has stirred controversy this year as some political parties requested its postponement, saying that the date coincides with the newly determined conquest day of the city.

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"An ex officio investigation has been started against social media accounts saying that similar events may also happen with refugees living in our country," the prosecutors' office said in a statement.

Election posters of Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, in Istanbul, 25 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN

"If there is no change at the ballot box, it will be a disaster in the economy and democracy," Demirtas wrote on Twitter on Friday.

Victory Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ announced on May 24 that they will support Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the candidate of the Nation Alliance, in the presidential election runoff.

Turkey's anti-immigrant Victory Party leader endorsed opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu on Wednesday, potentially boosting the challenger as he aims to make up ground and defeat President Tayyip Erdogan in Sunday's runoff election.

Victory Party Chair Ümit Özdağ said on May 23 that his party will continue discussions with Republican People's Party (CHP) leader and Nation Alliance's presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on the issue of lending support for his candidacy in the presidential election runoff.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Victory Party leader Sinan Oğan's support for the runoff election did not come over a bargain for a post for the latter, underlining that his government is mulling over establishing a Disaster Ministry as Oğan has promised for his supporters.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shaking hands with former presidential candidate of the ATA Alliance, Sinan Ogan (L) in Istanbul. 19 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/PRESIDENT PRESS OFFICE HANDOUT

"I will support President Erdogan in the second round and I call on our supporters to vote for People's Alliance's candidate Erdogan," Ogan said on Monday.

Sinan Oğan, the presidential candidate of the ATA Alliance who received around 5.2 percent of the votes in the first round, has announced that he will support President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the runoff elections slated for May 28.