Erdoğan says ready to protect their independence during elections ‘when necessary’ as in coup attempt

Duvar English

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on May 11 said that they are ready to protect their independence and future “at the expense of our lives when necessary, as on the night of July 15 (coup attempt).”

In a Twitter post about the May 14 elections, Erdoğan said “No matter what trap is set in front of us, we will not stop serving our country. We do not hesitate to grow our country and cities, that is with investments. No matter what attacks we face, we will not cast a shadow on the will of the nation and our democracy. We protect our independence and future at the expense of our lives when necessary, as on the night of July 15. Because we exist for this nation, of which we are honored to be a member and servant.”

During the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt, which is widely believed to have been orchestrated by the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, 251 people died.

Gülen is an ally-turned-foe of President Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

On the other hand, Erdoğan inconsistently said late on May 12 that "If my nation decides differently, we will do exactly what democracy requires."

When asked "What will your stance be if you lose the election?" during a live program broadcasted by 18 channels, Erdoğan said "This question can only be asked to terrorist organizations. We came to power in a democratic way, we came to power with the favor of our people. If my nation decides differently, we will do exactly what democracy requires. A person who does not respect the outcome of the ballot box has no respect for the nation."

This is not the first time an AKP figure has threatened the opposition for the election result.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has referred to the upcoming elections as the “West’s political coup attempt.”

Erdoğan's ally and far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has threatened the main opposition bloc Nation Alliance figures with death and said they will either receive “aggravated life sentences” after the May 14 elections or “bullets in their bodies.”

Some other figures from the AKP have tried to calm the situation. AKP Deputy Chair Numan Kurtulmuş on May 10 told broadcaster NTV that “No word or action should be put forward that will cause the nation to worry about election security. Whatever the outcome, it is a democratic outcome.”

Turkey will hold parliamentary and presidential elections on May 14 in the centennial of the foundation of the republic.

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