By Athena Papakosta

Him Recep Tayyip Erdogan were elected by the voters in Turkey, thus giving the green light for the Turkish president to remain in power for another five years, with which he now enters the third decade of his political hegemony in the neighbor.

It’s been 21 years now, during which Tayyip Erdogan has transformed Turkey in his image and likeness, amassing more and more power year by year, imprisoning more and more of his opponents-critics and inventing ever more unorthodox economic policies . Nothing was able to deprive him of power. Neither the coronavirus pandemic, nor the double blow of last February’s deadly earthquakes, nor the country’s broken economy. But they definitely spoiled him.

The bond between Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people may seem too strong to “die” as his supporters see the Turkish president as a member of their family – almost like a father figure in their lives – but defeated Kemal Kilicdaroglu made him run and to fight the battle of his life for his political survival. After all, it was the first time in the political history of Turkey that the battle for the presidential elections was led to a second round.

Last night the streets of Istanbul and Ankara belonged to the voters of the Turkish president. The financial crisis was briefly forgotten. No one was hungry and everyone was, for a while, rich. An open-air party was set up first with vehicle horns, then with slogans, later with dancing and singing and the Gray Wolves badge, while supporters of Tayyip Erdogan also went inside the Hagia Sophia, which has been converted into a mosque, to celebrate his victory.

The Turkish president himself, before his new electoral victory was officially announced, which marks yet another re-election, had stood on the roof of a bus parked in front of his residence in Istanbul, singing “Duyanlara Duymayanlara”, to those who ” they listen and they don’t listen”, he gave the slogan for the start of the celebrations to his supporters. It was his first victory message and in it he said goodbye to Kemal Kilicdaroglu by repeating the now well-known “Bye-bye Kemal”, stressing that “we will keep all the promises we made to the people” and that “every election is a rebirth” to thank him God “who answered our prayers”.

A few hours later and while darkness had fallen, the 40,000 m2 “White Sarai” in Ankara was lit up. There, according to the first calculations, 320,000 of his voters were waiting for him for at least four hours. He went out on the balcony and started singing. “We are not the only winners. Turkey is the winner, our democracy is the winner,” he emphasized, addressing a unifying message while, starting his speech, he shouted, “how is it possible not to love this nation?”.

Declaring that he was ready to inaugurate the “Century of Turkey” he emphasized that “we will build a strong economy” promising the Turkish people that “they will see inflation decrease” while he made it clear that “the top priority will continue to be the reconstruction of the destroyed cities” from the February 6 earthquakes.

At the same time, in the opposition camp, gloom and disappointment were painted on the faces of the defeated for the biggest opportunity they lost. At the headquarters of the People’s Republican Party in Ankara, the head of the six-party opposition gathered against Erdogan. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, steps up to the podium but does not resign.

“In these elections, the will of the people to change the authoritarian government is clear, despite all the pressures. We experienced the most unfair pre-election process in recent years,” he stressed. “Despite this climate of fear,” he continued, “I would like to thank all the leaders of the coalition and all our fellow citizens. The People’s Republican Party and the National Alliance will continue to fight with all their members. We will continue to be pioneers in this battle until real democracy comes to our country” he said while underlining that “my biggest regret is the problems that await Turkey”.

A big bet for the opposition is to remain united since, in one year, Turkey will once again go to the polls for the self-governing elections. Until the early hours of the morning, the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, had not made any statement, while many expect him to succeed Kilicdaroglu in the presidency of the People’s Republican Party.

From now on, the eyes of the analysts are focused on the next day of the polls, on the problems that have been asking for a solution for a long time and on the news that is lurking. For example, Erdogan may have distributed money to his voters early Sunday afternoon like a modern Sultan, but the onions for which the people did not sacrifice him may make the neighbor and the winner of the ballot box cry because of the dire financial situation. in the country.

It is a fact that Turkey continues to remain divided and polarized. Erdogan may have won with 52.16% but 47.84% of Turkish citizens voted for the change and for the next five years he will have to continue living with the “hell” he knew. “Bye – bye Kemal” this world will not change… yet.