By Athena Papakosta

The confrontation in Turkey is rising dangerously ahead of the country’s dual elections on Sunday, May 14.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan called his political rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, “drunk”the Turkish people, “his people” and now he is dreaming of new “harvests”.

At the same time, the presidential candidate of the “six” Kilicdaroglu promises a “climate of peace and tranquility” in terms of Turkey’s foreign policy while, with the phrase “let them throw stones. We will respond with roses” Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul and candidate for vice president of the united opposition responded to the unprecedented episode of last Sunday when his bus was attacked with stones by supporters of the government camp.

The Turkish president has not yet said his last word. Already from Edirne, he accused Imamoglu that he caused the episode, speaking of provocations by the mayor of Istanbul with the aim of winning the vote of the Turkish citizens. “With their own provocation, they make a fuss and then, without shame, they try to tarnish our cities,” he pointed out, referring also to the city of Erzerum, where the attack took place and is considered a stronghold of the ruling party, AKP.

For Erdogan, these elections have an existential character and he himself, experienced and winner of many electoral contests, plays everything for everything, reaching the point of promising money which, however, he does not actually have since Turkey remains economically with its back against the wall because of the not so great Erdoganomics.

He knows that his country is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and he wants to be there as its leader. He heralds the coming of the “century of Turkey” and makes “new dreams”, as he said, of “reconciliation”. His strategy is defined by the goal of bringing Sunday’s election contest to the second round by investing in the narrative of a strong Turkey because of him and no one else.

THE Kemal Kilicdaroglu, however, it seems that he is investing in tomorrow and after the young people who will vote for the first time, he is opening “peace and tranquility” to Turkey’s neighbors. Although a few days ago he raised the issue of demilitarization of the Greek islands and criticizing the Erdogan government for not doing anything, yesterday he committed to a “180 degree turn in foreign policy” citing the words of Kemal Ataturk “peace in the country, peace in the world”.

However, what the chosen one of the “six” cannot commit to, not even in words, is the outcome of the battle, which remains ambiguous. No one can predict the election result, nor, however, the next day in the country for which the scenarios are many and some generate fear. The climate in the neighborhood remains polarized and the 74-year-old political rival of Erdogan, who is five years his junior, once again warned of the risk of deviations on Sunday night, calling on supporters of the united opposition to remain calm.