With only a few days to go until Turkey’s election, the opposition continues to lead in most polls. But there is a growing feeling in Turkey that president Erdogan might defy the odds and win again. A striking image of a rally in Istanbul – Erdogan’s biggest so far – shows Turkey’s leader continues to enjoy popular support.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) claimed that 1.7 million people showed up at the decommissioned Atatürk airport for the event on Sunday; supporters were bused into the rally from across the country. While independent fact-checkers pointed out that the real number is likely less than half the number claimed, this rally showed that victory for the opposition is far from certain.
Just a day before, the six-party opposition alliance also held its respective rally in Istanbul attracting several hundred thousand supporters. The contrast in theme and rhetoric between the two events was stark.
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