Economist Podcasts Starched rival: Turkey’s opposition candidate
Mar 14, 2023
Fyodor Zalewski, Turkey correspondent for The Economist, offers deep insights into the Turkish presidential race, focusing on the mild-mannered Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the challenges facing his campaign against Erdoğan. Rachel Dobbs discusses the landmark UN high-seas treaty, emphasizing its critical role in protecting marine ecosystems and the hurdles for enforcement. The conversation also touches on the rise of Thai Boys Love dramas as a cultural phenomenon, exploring their global appeal and implications for LGBTQ+ rights in Thailand.
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Challenging Nomination
- Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of Turkey's Republican People's Party (CHP), is the opposition's presidential candidate.
- His nomination was expected to be a formality, but it faced internal opposition, creating political drama.
Internal Opposition
- Meral Akşener, leader of the Good Party, initially opposed Kılıçdaroğlu's candidacy.
- She preferred Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, or Ankara's mayor, Mansur Yavaş, as candidates.
Kılıçdaroğlu's Appeal
- Kılıçdaroğlu is seen as the antithesis of Erdoğan, a bookish former bureaucrat.
- His mild-mannered personality is considered a potential antidote to Erdoğan's autocratic style.