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France 24
France 24
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François PICARD

Could Erdogan lose? Shock pullout boosts Turkey opposition candidate

THE DEBATE © FRANCE 24

Could an eleventh-hour surprise swing Sunday's elections in Turkey? After two decades in power, it was always going to be close as Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces a mostly-united opposition. Still, the charismatic leader of the Islamist-rooted AK Party controls all the levers of power and commands a loyal following. Now, three days out, comes the shock withdrawal of third-party candidate Muharrem Ince. With a niche following among younger voters, we ask if it's a game changer. Could the opposition score a first-round knockout against the incumbent?

Polls already suggested that Turkey's opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu had more than an even chance in a runoff against Erdogan. Now, after managing to unite six disparate parties behind his name, and the sudden pullout of a seventh, what to expect in the run-up to Sunday, during the vote and once the ballots have been cast?

Produced by Charles Wente, Daphné Leprince-Ringuet and Imen Mellaz.

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