The elections in Turkey are turning out to be very contentious and are leading to tense situations. During the weekend, isolated incidents of rioting broke out amongst Turkish voters residing in Belgium, Holland, and France.
With a large diaspora of Turks in Europe, the elections are impacting European countries. Several polling stations across Europe have been the scene of disturbances and fights.
Supporters of the ruling AKP traded blows with political opponents. Kurds from the PKK are alleged to have started fights with ethnic Turks.
In Antwerp, Belgium, the mayor of the Turkish city Emirdag visited a polling station and his bodyguards are said to have attacked YSP supporters.
Bugün Antwerp'de Emirdağ belediye başkanı tüm yasaklara karşın Antwerp seçim salonuna gelip propaganda yaparak insanların oylarını etkilemeye çalışmıştır. Kendisini uyaran ittifak yoldaşlarımıza, YSP temsilcilerine korumalarının saldırması, yumruk yumruğa bir kavgaya sebebiyet + pic.twitter.com/eFBBrqjnkw
— TİP BELCİKA (@TipBelcika) April 30, 2023
Also in Antwerp, Kurdish men are accused of attacking Turkish people who went out to vote.
PKK-sympathisanten hebben #Turken aangevallen die gingen stemmen in #Antwerpen, #België pic.twitter.com/sNTMTl72gz
— de Jonge Turken (@deJongeTurken) May 1, 2023
Similar fights broke out in Holland. In Amsterdam, Turkish voters started to fight amongst themselves at a polling station on Sunday. The police did not make any arrests.
In Marseille, France, there were several scuffles and the police had to resort to the use of tear gas in one instance. Despite a large police presence, more fights broke out across the city. Witnesses claim supporters of the PKK armed with knives and clubs attacked people.
Anhänger der Terrororganisation PKK haben türkische Staatsbürger in der Nähe eines Wahllokals im französischen Marseille mit Messern und Stöcken angegriffen. Die Opfer waren im Rahmen der türkischen Präsidentschafts- und Parlamentswahlen für die Stimmabgabe vor Ort. pic.twitter.com/7cfoD7HGTM
— TRT Deutsch (@TRTDeutsch) May 2, 2023
The Turkish elections of May 14 are set to be the most closely contested in decades. Much is at stake, and the margins are razor-thin. Votes from abroad are important for Erdogan. In the last elections in 2018, those votes were the deciding factor. Almost 75 per cent of these votes went to Erdogan.
The elections take place in tumultuous times. While the country is facing high inflation, economic turmoil and still has to grapple with the consequences of a devastating earthquake, the international situation is also challenging. Turkey has pursued a complex diplomatic path under Erdogan, constantly playing off its Nato allies, Russia, Israel, and neighbouring countries.
Turkey faces a clear choice between the policies of Erdogan, who pursues an independent path and is seen to have become increasingly autocratic, and Kilicdaroglu, who vows to restore democracy and “build bridges”. As well as the presidency, the entire parliament is also being elected.
The party of Erdogan and the opposition are evenly split. A record turnout is expected, especially among millions of new voters who have only known Erdogan as president. The regions that normally vote most strongly for Erodgan are those that were hit hardest by the February earthquake.
