Everybody Knows Who Not to Vote For

As Turkey heads for early general elections in late July, the voters seem to know what they oppose to but have a hard time identifying a concrete choise for their ambitions. We interwieved random people on Istanbul streets and tried to contemplate.

İstanbul

As the government and the opposition agree on early general elections scheduled for July 22, we went to Istanbul streets and interviewed people on their vote.

It turns out that most people know who not to vote for but stay tremulous when asked which party their heart goes to. Here are some excerpts:

Murat (26, parking lot worker): I ask myself if is there anybody worthy of my vote than the current PM Erdoğan. I attended to the recent "republican meetings" organized by those opposing to the government. If main opposition People's Republican Party (CHP) and Democratic Left Party (DSP) can join forces, I'll vote for them. If not, it's the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Aslan Kılıç (35, parking lot worker): I'll vote for the Nationalist Movement Party. In fact I think that the AKP has done well but as an attitude I lean to the MHP.

Ayla Yıldız (30, trade union worker): My vote will go to the Party of Labor (EMEP) but I guess the AKP will exit the poll victorious.

Şencay Karatay (24, unemployed): I'll vote for the Labor Party (İP) but I think the AKP would win.

Devrim Kartal (industrial engineer): If CHP and DSP join forces I'll vote for them. If not, whoever seems in front at the public surveys will get my vote.

Rasim Demirci (25, street vendor): I'll vote for the AKP. They blocked the way of the current Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul. In fact, my heart goes to MHP. Before, people from eastern regions were treated as "second class", now we're.

Münir (29, street vendor): I won't go to the polls because who ever we vote everything stays the same. The rulers take ten times more than what they give to the public. Children are born in debt.

Ayten Özkan (21, student): I'm content with the current situation, I'll again vote AKP.

Esra (18, student): This is the first time I'll be voting. It's AKP.

Mükerrem Çolakoğlu (57, housewife): I haven't decided yet but I know I won't be voting AKP. In the last elections I gave my vote to İsmail Cem but now he's deceased.

İhsan Başöz (35, self-employed): Not decided yet but surely it won't be AKP. Maybe CHP.

Ömer Alpdoğan (25, waiter): I'll vote AKP, just for the sake of it. Last time I voted CHP.

Faik Edip Öztürk (54, hotel worker): I'll vote CHP. If the left unites, they would exceed the 25 percent mark. I guess the united right (True Path Party-DYP and Motherland Party-ANAP) would score around 12 percent.

Aziz (street donut seller): I don't know. I've voted for ANAP, DYP or AKP in the past.

Cüneyt (26, taxi driver): I'll vote AKP. It wasn't just that they blocked the presidency of Gul. The parliament elected the presidents up to now, why not this time?

Ece Ekinci (23, student): I'm undecided. I guess it will the CHP at the last moment.

Ayfer (student): I'll vote blank, they're all the same.

Yeliz (student): We'll be on vocation, I won't vote.

İsmail Hakkı Köse (taxi driver): I'll vote for Cem Uzan. I like his humanity and manners. I think he will challenge the AKP.(AÖ/NZ/EÜ)