İnce says open to negotiation with Kılıçdaroğlu for candidacy

Homeland Party (MP) chair Muharrem İnce, who is one of the presidential candidates, has stated that he is open to negotiation with the main opposition bloc’s candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on a possible move to withdraw from candidacy. İnce's candidacy is regarded as preventing the opposition from uniting.

Tuesday March 28 2023 01:44 pm

This file photo shows İnce (L) and Kılıçdaroğlu (R)

Duvar English

The Homeland Party (MP) leader Muharrem İnce, who is running for the office, has said that he is open to negotiation with the main opposition Nation Alliance’s presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on a possible move to withdraw from candidacy.

“Kılıçdaroğlu is older than me. He was my general chair. I respect him. Politics is something else. I am open to negotiation,” İnce told the daily Hürriyet.

When asked “If you are offered the vice presidency or ministry, what would your attitude be?” İnce said there is no such offer yet but he is open to talk.

“They do not show me, who is the son of the CHP, the same respect they show to Ahmet Davutoğlu, Ali Babacan, Gültekin Uysal and Temel Karamollaoğlu. I'm not happy with this government, but I'm not happy with the opposition either. I want to do politics. So why should I withdraw (from candidacy)?” İnce added, referring to the leaders of the Nation Alliance.

There are concerns that the CHP-breakaway Homeland Party leader Muharrem İnce’s presidential candidacy might split the opposition's votes. However, he argues that Turkey needs to get rid of both the government and the main opposition. There are also concerns that Erdoğan might win the second round if the ruling People's Alliance garner majority seats in the Parliament.

On the other hand, Kılıçdaroğlu said he wants to win the elections in the first round and plans to pay a visit to İnce.

Kılıçdaroğlu said he will "most likely" have a meeting with İnce on March 29.

#SONDAKİKA @cakir_rusen'a konuşan CHP Genel Başkanı Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Memleket Partisi Genel Başkanı Muharrem İnce ile yarın görüşeceklerini açıkladı:

"Görüşme talebi bizden gitti. Yarın büyük olasılıklıkla görüşeceğiz" https://t.co/p6z3tI8z44 pic.twitter.com/9fCw61laXU
— Medyascope (@medyascope) March 28, 2023

In the 2018 elections, İnce had run as the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) presidential candidate and received 30 percent of the votes. On March 20, he claimed that he will garner 60 percent of the votes in this election which is scheduled to be held on May 14.

After losing the 2018 presidential elections, İnce's relationship with the CHP began to deteriorate. In 2021, he resigned from the party in order to found his "Homeland Movement." In the same year, he and several former CHP members formed the Homeland Party as an alternative "Kemalist" party.

Topics Muharrem İnce Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu presidential election 2023 elections