What Do People Think About the Elections in Aydın?

City center was full of policemen because of PM Ahmet Davutoğlu's election meeting. Even though we had press-card, we couldn't attend meeting since we weren't accredited. We had to show our press-card and make ourselves clear to PM's bodyguards while interviewing with people.

An industrial and agricultural city, Aydın, had 3 deputies from AKP, 3 from CHP and 1 from MHP in 2011 elections. Özlem Çerçioğlu from CHP won the election twice. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu had the highest number of vote in presidential elections.

It is thought the number of AKP deputies will decrease in the forthcoming election but everything is possible.

A woman with a headscarf we talked to said she voted for three different parties throughout her life and she was indecisive whom to vote for.

"All my life I have been a partisan of AKP. We came from Eastern Turkey. My husband and I once voted for Peace and Democracy party (BDP) and then we voted for CHP in case they would employ my husband. I was glad with CHP municipality but now my husband has some difficulties with municipality because they turned their backs on him. We don't know whom we will vote for. I just want politicians to be calmer. They always quarrel but needn't to do that. We have them pegged.

A shopkeeper woman said she voted for AKP in 2002 but kept on CHP.

"I made a mistake for voting for AKP once. My husband had influenced me. We divorced and now try to bring up our children with minimum wage. All political parties only care for themselves. They all had money to burn."

We met a group of men in a tea house. They were voters from both CHP and HDP. They complained about expensiveness, unemployment and credit card debts.

When asked how they were living in Aydın as a Kurd, they told "We don't have any problem at all. There isn't a Kurdish problem. They always say there is a problem. Look at us, we are friends and have conversations in here."

Another young man said "Selahattin Demirtaş is the best among politicans. He knows how to talk but I don't vote for him. If he were an independent candidate he would have been PM," when asked the rising popularity of Demirtaş.

Tea house owner interrupted "Half of people coming here like Demirtaş. However, just 10% of them will vote for him. Demirtaş is an idol."

We found out people who liked Demirtaş wouldn't vote for him in Aydın like İzmir and Manisa.

A tradesman showed us TV, Davutoğlu was talking.

"I've always voted for AKP and I will always. AKP made us felt our existence. Turkey has changed so much. Ottoman Empire was called "sick man" but we are proud of ourselves now. I don't believe in bribery and corruption operations. That's the thing of parallel structure. If I would have believed in, it would have affected my decision to vote for. Of course."

When asked about four ministers sent to Supreme Court for Dec.17, 2013 corruption and bribery operation, he said "I don't care about them. Parallel structure wants to overthrow the government."

A woman going to the PM's meeting told they were held in esteem due to AKP.

"We didn't benefit from previous governments. I'm 53. We waited in lines to be treated and couldn't buy medicine. Everything has changed now. Everything is all right.

A man interrupted and talked about shoeboxes stuffed with millions of money found during the bribery operation. Partisan of AKP, woman accused immediately CHP and claimed that CHP was robbing the banks.

"Universities are everywhere. Our children have a future now. Tayyip Erdoğan is man of the people. We chose him. God bless them.

A Romani florist husband and wife said they voted for since 2002 but they would vote for Özcan Purçi, also a Romani, from CHP.

"I can't afford even a new fridge. Why should I vote for AKP? AKP promised new houses for Romani people. A few years passed but they haven't built anything yet.

"We will vote for Özcan Purçu from CHP. He is one of us. We are proud of him. Romani people won't be ashamed of themselves. He will lead the way up for us."

We couldn't meet a voter from MHP, nevertheless we had an opportunity to meet Ali Uzunırmak, a fourth time candidate from MHP. He had been Aydın deputy for three times. Uzunırmak stated that Aydın had a rate of 33% of unemployment and Aydın must be improved with its own abilities and possibilities along with integration planning.

Uzunırmak, indicated the encouragement for agricultural investments must increase. Aydın figs are famous and these fruits meet 65% of World's demand and 75-80% of them are Aydın's famous figs. (NV/BD)

* This tour has been made with the help of coordinatorship of P24.

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