Former CHP candidate insists on running for president as Kılıçdaroğlu wants to meet him

İnce addressing his supporters on March 19 outside of his party's headquaters in Ankara. (Photo: Muharrem İnce/Twitter)

Campaigning is gaining track with 53 days left until Turkey's dual elections. While most see the race for the presidency to be between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, 18 other competitors have submitted their applications to run for office.

One of these contenders is Muharrem İnce, former presidential candidate of Kılıçdaroğlu's Republican People's Party (CHP), who has led the Memleket (Homeland) Party since 2021.

Despite losing in the first round to current Erdoğan in 2018 with a margin over 20 percent, the 58-year-old former physical education teacher's self-confidence has seemingly not dwindled. 

After filing his candidacy on Monday, he claimed that his voting rate, "as everyone knows," was around 19-20 percent, and when the election goes to the second round, he will win with over 60 percent.

'We need to remove the opposition'

Yesterday (March 21), during a broadcast of Habertürk TV's "Teke Tek" (One on One) program, hosted by well-known journalist Fatih Altaylı, İnce suggested a new alliance.

He called on the Nation Alliance's largest parties, the CHP and the Good (İYİ) Party, to leave the Nation's Alliance and form a new alliance with the Homeland Party, stating that this trio would "fit like a glove."

İnce claimed that he could garner votes of Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), something "Mister Kemal is unable to do," and that his party's support is four times higher than that of four smaller parties in the Nation Alliance.

He further criticized the opposition's management, arguing that "to remove this rulership, we need to remove the opposition."

Additionally, during the TV program, he asserted that if elected, he would bring former AKP deputy prime minister and finance minister Ali Babacan to the Supreme Criminal Court. Babacan is currently head of the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party, which is part of the six-party Nation's Alliance.

Dividing opposition votes

The former Yalova MP recently mentioned that he could withdraw in favor of Kılıçdaroğlu.

In recent months, İnce also speculated on forming a new electoral alliance with the Democratic Left party, the Victory Party, the True Party and the Justice Party. However, on March 6, İnce, reportedly in a Whatsapp message, informed the group that "I won't continue."

Worrying that he could take crucial votes from Kılıçdaroğlu, İnce has been called upon to withdraw from the presidential race, which is expected to be a close one. In order to be elected president, fifty percent plus one vote is needed. If no candidates achieve this, a second round will be held two weeks later.

Meanwhile, Kılıçdaroğlu told the daily Sözcü in an interview published today that he wants to visit İnce. "I will go to the Memleket Party like other parties," he was quoted as saying. (WM/VK)