A member of the Republican People's Party (CHP) distributes an election campaign flyer to a woman in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 25, 2023. As the upcoming Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14th are less than two weeks away, an army of canvassing volunteers is out in Istanbul's streets, trying their best to woo a vote from 11.3 million eligible voters living in Türkiye's largest city. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)
ISTANBUL, May 5 (Xinhua) --- As the upcoming Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14th are less than two weeks away, an army of canvassing volunteers is out in Istanbul's streets, trying their best to woo a vote from 11.3 million eligible voters living in Türkiye's largest city.
With more than one in six eligible voters, Istanbul, also a cultural and financial center, is considered the most important battleground city in the elections.
Meanwhile, the presidential election is expected as a tight race between two of four candidates: incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, representing the electoral coalition People's Alliance and seeking a new five-year term, and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who runs for an alliance of opposition parties.
Both candidates are campaigning to improve the quality of life for many Turks affected by the recent economic downturn. If no candidate secures more than 50 percent of the votes in the first round, a second ballot will be held on May 28.
Kemal Duranoglu, a member of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), canvases in the Fatih district in Istanbul, the ruling party's stronghold.
"We have campaign buses and campaign tents everywhere," he told Xinhua, "We're talking with young people on the ground."
"The president has very nice projects concerning youths lined up for the future," he added.
In the Sisli district on the European side of Istanbul, Bahar Alban is canvassing for the CHP. "We have stands and offices in every corner of Sisli," she told Xinhua.
"Our faith [in victory] is very high," she added. "If we didn't have faith, it would be really hard to walk this path. We first have to believe to succeed."
The canvassers usually set up their stands at 10 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) and continue all day until around 7 p.m., distributing campaign flyers to passers-by and discussing the party platform with anyone who wants to learn more.
Of the around 85 million citizens living in Türkiye, 60.7 million are eligible voters. An additional 3.4 million are citizens living abroad, who will vote at 152 embassies and consulates in 74 different countries or at 4,671 ballot boxes set up at airports and border gates around the country. Early voting for citizens living abroad began last week. ■
A member of the Republican People's Party (CHP) distributing election campaign flyers is seen in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 25, 2023. As the upcoming Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14th are less than two weeks away, an army of canvassing volunteers is out in Istanbul's streets, trying their best to woo a vote from 11.3 million eligible voters living in Türkiye's largest city. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)
A man walks past a campaign bus of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 5, 2023. As the upcoming Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14th are less than two weeks away, an army of canvassing volunteers is out in Istanbul's streets, trying their best to woo a vote from 11.3 million eligible voters living in Türkiye's largest city. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)
A member of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) waves party flags in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 25, 2023. As the upcoming Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14th are less than two weeks away, an army of canvassing volunteers is out in Istanbul's streets, trying their best to woo a vote from 11.3 million eligible voters living in Türkiye's largest city. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)
People walk past an election campaign poster in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 5, 2023. As the upcoming Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14th are less than two weeks away, an army of canvassing volunteers is out in Istanbul's streets, trying their best to woo a vote from 11.3 million eligible voters living in Türkiye's largest city. (Photo by Omer Kuscu/Xinhua)