Sinan Oğan, a former Turkish presidential candidate who led the nationalist alliance ATA, indicated in the second round of the elections that he would back the incumbent president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The announcement appeared in the press on Monday, May 22, under the banner of freedom and opinion. Oğan explained that he met with both Erdoğan and the opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and after those discussions he expressed support for the People’s Alliance candidate. He also urged the bloc’s voters to cast ballots for Mr. Erdoğan.
Earlier negotiations highlighted the policy priorities Oğan sought, including the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, a stronger push against terrorism, and robust measures to address natural disasters.
The second round of Turkey’s presidential elections was scheduled for Sunday, May 28. In the first round on May 14, the aim was to surpass the 50 percent threshold to secure victory. Erdoğan received 49.52 percent, while Kılıçdaroğlu had 44.88 percent, leaving neither candidate above the line. Oğan finished third with 5.17 percent, and Muharrem İnce trailed with 0.43 percent of the vote despite withdrawing before voting; his name remained on the ballots.
Erdoğan won in four of the seven regions but faced losses in major cities such as Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, and Antalya, where Kılıçdaroğlu drew significant support. Still, Erdoğan led among Turks voting from abroad, reflecting a sizable diaspora presence in the electoral landscape.
Who is Sinan Oğan?
Sinan Oğan, 55, ran for president in Turkey for the first time. Between 2011 and 2015 he served as a member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly with the Nationalist Movement Party as part of the nationalist bloc. He was expelled from the party in 2015, challenged the decision in court, and was briefly reinstated later that year, only to be expelled again in 2017. The expulsions were tied to tensions over party direction and leadership ambitions within the MHP, with reports suggesting Oğan sought to lead the party and challenged long-time chairman Devlet Bahçeli.
In the 2023 elections he ran as part of the right-wing coalition and earned the media nickname queen maker, as analysts argued his voter base could influence the outcome. Oğan criticized both Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu for not offering a viable path to Turkey’s challenges. He also urged a stronger Turkish role in Syria and criticized Russia for its actions in the region and support for Bashar al-Assad, arguing that these dynamics threaten Turkey’s security.
How long has Erdoğan ruled Turkey?
The current Turkish president has held office since 2014 after previously serving as prime minister from 2003. With the 2018 constitutional changes, Turkey adopted a presidential-parliamentary system. In 2022, the opposition suggested Erdoğan would be unable to run again, citing four-year term limits under the new framework following an early 2018 election. The Justice Ministry later clarified that under the amendments Erdoğan was eligible to participate in the 2023 elections, and Erdoğan stated he would not pursue a third term if reelected in the current race. These developments shaped the constitutional and political narrative surrounding the 2023 electoral cycle, impacting party strategies and voter expectations across the country.