Tayyip Erdoğan, presidential candidate of the People's Alliance and chair of the ruling AKP, who used all the state resources during his election campaign, was elected the 13th President according to unofficial results. Speaking to the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the second round of the presidential election, journalist İnci Hekimoğlu said that unlawfulness has become rampant in the country, and that they will continue to fight it.

'UNLAWFUL STRUCTURE'

Hekimoğlu said that there is an unlawful structure that has suspended the rule of law and the constitution. “Pro-government mobs stormed polling stations with guns, the deputies were battered. Election frauds were reported at many polling stations.”

THE OPPOSITION’S TIES WITH THE GRASSROOTS

Hekimoğlu reacted to the statement of Ahmet Yener, Chair of the Supreme Election Board (YSK), who, despite violations and election fraud, said that “there was no negative situation”. She said: “This is incredible shamelessness. We knew that the government could always rig the elections. But there is another problem here. I think that the ties of opposition parties with their grassroots are not as strong as they used to be. Opposition parties need to strengthen their ties with their voters.”

'KURDS DID THEIR PART'

Hekimoğlu remarked that Kılıçdaroğlu, presidential candidate of the Nation’s Alliance, was the “most democratic” politician ever to chair the main opposition CHP. She emphasised that despite everything, Kılıçdaroğlu achieved a major success. Hekimoğlu stated that they voted for Kılıçdaroğlu despite IYI Party Chair Meral Akşener and Zafer Party Chair Ümit Özdağ. She said: “The Kurds did their part in the second round of the presidential election. Unfortunately, voters other than the Kurds either did not go to the polls or did not vote for Kılıçdaroğlu.”

Hekimoğlu suggested the CHP should think about why it could not achieve success in AKP’s strongholds. She continued: “After the election, there will be discussions within the parties. The nationalist faction within the CHP will take action to oust Kılıçdaroğlu. Kılıçdaroğlu was the CHP's best chance. I hope that Kılıçdaroğlu will strengthen his position within the party.”

50 PERCENT AGAINST ERDOGAN

Hekimoğlu remarked that the rise of Erdogan’s votes was a result of election fraud. She emphasized that the election results were not real results. She said: “But even if we acknowledge the election outcomes, Erdogan cannot dissolve the 50 percent opposition standing against himself for 20 years. I think that the opposition is over 50 percent. The country is also facing a major economic depression. It is not clear how they will deal with it.”

'WE WILL NEVER ABANDON THE STRUGGLE'

Pointing that the government may incline toward a more religious and “dictatorial” structure, Hekimoğlu concluded: “We will never abandon the struggle, especially as women. We will continue to stand up to this system. In doing so, we need to devise new organizational models, a new management alternative, a new economic program, a new education system, and new models. Waiting for the elections and making propaganda in election campaigns are not enough any longer. Opposition parties should come together with all oppositional groups and implement an organizational model through which they can penetrate the social fabric of society.”