Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu : The Involuntary Frontman of a Half-Hearted Alliance
Keeping all above-mentioned scenarios in mind, the only certain thing about the upcoming presidential election is that the main opposition CHP's decision to endorse a candidate with no ideological affinity to the party organization will result in a prolonged controversy.
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Is Ihsanoglu the Right Candidate for Turkey?
Having agreed to nominate Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as their joint candidate, the opposition parties have successfully taken a first step. We will have ample time to analyze whether or not he can live up to the expectations over the coming weeks.
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İhsanoğlu comes from a place in Turkish politics that neither MHP nor CHP voters can easily identify with.
The Turkish electorate will vote for the president and the presidential system during the elections, but the aftermath of the elections will bring new debates regardless of who wins. There will also be debates regarding the functioning of the new system.
Erdoğan's speech suggests that he desires to promote his notion of citizenship in the New Turkey. However, winning the presidential race also provided him with the legitimacy and opportunity to fully implement reforms for the Kurds and the Alevi community.
