What Do People in Black Sea Think about Re-election ?

Our first stop in Black Sea for November 1 General Elections (re-election) tour was Trabzon province. We had a first impression that there was no joy of election in the city like it was on June 7, 2015.

Trabzon

We had the opportunity to talk people in a park; everybody said their choices of June 7 wouldn’t change.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) weren’t much successful according to the locals. 

Some of them told us “Trabzon doesn’t let HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) be elected,” we couldn’t see HDP flags corroboratively.

Some thought Kurdish question was the reason behind it but found HDP leader Selahattin Demirtaş likeable.

CHP, HDP and MHP deputy candidates in Trabzon

Haluk Pekşen from CHP:

“99 natural protected sites were zoned for construction due to Green Road Project. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) isn’t necessary.

“Terror can’t solve the problems in the world, you can’t solve terror with weapons, either.”

Koray Aydın from MHP:

“AKP made it voters think MHP couldn’t help forming a coalition. However, only a man rules Turkey, already. In this election, the decision to abolish it will be made.”

Hüseyin Taka from HDP:

“We are struggling for politics under harsh conditions and don’t have life safety. It is a more risky situation since there is a civil war in Turkey. Kurdphobia is rising. I think Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will lay down arms before the elections so we can go to polls in a more democratic environment.”

Rize

Rize province is the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s hometown and had 3 deputies from AKP.

Voters in Rize think AKP embellishes the city; they don’t follow the news but give importance to the practices of AKP. So, they suppose AKP’s votes will increase.

Problems of Rize people are; unemployment, being a small city and bare opportunities for the youth.

Deputy candidates and voters complain of ‘tea problems’ (tea in Turkey is grown mostly in Rize Province) ; floor prices, imposed quota for the tea selling, having to market tea for lower price to private sector… 

Most of Rize people suffer from financial difficulties and joblessness. They say, on the other hand:

“Whatever happens, Rize people do vote for Erdoğan …until a new guy from Rize shows up!”

CHP and MHP deputies

Osman Cem Kızmaz from MHP:

“It is perceived that doing politics without AKP means doing politics against the President Erdoğan. Soldiers are dying because of him. MHP may have some of the votes of AKP. When Justice and Development Party stressed the flag and nationalism, it just benefits Nationalist Movement Party.”

 CHP Women's Branch Head of Rize, Fazilet Türüt:

"Doing politics is difficult since it is shadowed by Erdoğan but we have been struggling for 10 years. We couldn’t succeed enough since Erdoğan is ‘fellow townsman’ for Rize people. " (BK/BD)

* Photo Credit: Beyza Kural / bianet

* The election tour was coordinated by P24.

 Click here to read the article in Turkish