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| Kemal Kilicdaroglu: Opposition picks 'Turkey's Gandhi' to challenge Erdogan in election | Kemal Kilicdaroglu: Opposition picks 'Turkey's Gandhi' to challenge Erdogan in election |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Mr Kilicdaroglu is known in Turkish media as "Gandhi Kemal" for his resemblance to the Indian civil rights leader | Mr Kilicdaroglu is known in Turkish media as "Gandhi Kemal" for his resemblance to the Indian civil rights leader |
| Turkey's often divided opposition parties have come together to choose a single candidate to face President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May's election. | Turkey's often divided opposition parties have come together to choose a single candidate to face President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May's election. |
| Kemal Kilicdaroglu leads the main secular opposition party, the centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP). | Kemal Kilicdaroglu leads the main secular opposition party, the centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP). |
| Polls suggest a tight race in a country highly polarised after two decades of Mr Erdogan's authoritarian rule. | Polls suggest a tight race in a country highly polarised after two decades of Mr Erdogan's authoritarian rule. |
| Economic crisis and errors during last month's earthquake may make him more vulnerable than in previous elections. | Economic crisis and errors during last month's earthquake may make him more vulnerable than in previous elections. |
| A huge crowd of supporters cheered Mr Kilicdaroglu, a former civil servant, as he was chosen by a six-party opposition alliance. | A huge crowd of supporters cheered Mr Kilicdaroglu, a former civil servant, as he was chosen by a six-party opposition alliance. |
| Known as "Gandhi Kemal" or "Turkey's Gandhi" for his resemblance to Indian civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi, the quiet-spoken 74 year old offers a radically different vision in both substance and style to the fiery, charismatic Mr Erdogan's. | Known as "Gandhi Kemal" or "Turkey's Gandhi" for his resemblance to Indian civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi, the quiet-spoken 74 year old offers a radically different vision in both substance and style to the fiery, charismatic Mr Erdogan's. |
| However, some of Mr Kilicdaroglu's allies fear he lacks popular appeal. | |
| He promised his supporters that he would govern Turkey through consensus and consultation. | He promised his supporters that he would govern Turkey through consensus and consultation. |
| "Our table is the table of peace," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency. "Our only goal is to take the country to days of prosperity, peace and joy." | "Our table is the table of peace," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency. "Our only goal is to take the country to days of prosperity, peace and joy." |
| He also said he would return the country to a parliamentary system. Mr Erdogan oversaw a transition to a presidential system in 2018, gaining sweeping powers. | |
| Turkey's Erdogan fighting to stay in power after 20 years | Turkey's Erdogan fighting to stay in power after 20 years |
| The collapsed buildings that were meant to withstand earthquakes | The collapsed buildings that were meant to withstand earthquakes |
| The CHP was created by modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and is the country's oldest political party, though it has been out of power centrally since the 1990s. | The CHP was created by modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and is the country's oldest political party, though it has been out of power centrally since the 1990s. |
| However, Mr Kilicdaroglu has broadened its appeal by embracing minority groups and has formed alliances with right-wing parties. | However, Mr Kilicdaroglu has broadened its appeal by embracing minority groups and has formed alliances with right-wing parties. |
| He has also shown himself willing to challenge Mr Erdogan, a leader who has become increasingly intolerant of criticism. | He has also shown himself willing to challenge Mr Erdogan, a leader who has become increasingly intolerant of criticism. |
| In February's earthquake, in which more than 45,000 people were killed in south-eastern Turkey, Mr Kilicdaroglu led attacks on the government, which he said had allowed corruption and poor building standards. | In February's earthquake, in which more than 45,000 people were killed in south-eastern Turkey, Mr Kilicdaroglu led attacks on the government, which he said had allowed corruption and poor building standards. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Turkey | Turkey |
| Recep Tayyip Erdogan | Recep Tayyip Erdogan |