The giant banner of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which was hung on a historical fortification wall in Istanbul’s Ayvansaray district last week, was removed on April 24.
On April 19, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul provincial head Canan Kaftancıoğlu reacted against Erdoğan’s poster on the 5th-century city walls by sharing its photos on Twitter and saying, “It is forbidden to post this (poster) on Istanbul Walls that belong to the Treasury.” Later, the CHP on April 22 hung presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s poster on the city walls.
The CHP Istanbul Provincial Directorate also filed a complaint to the district governor’s office to have the banner removed.
According to ANKA news agency, Erdoğan’s poster was seen to have been taken down along with Kılıçdaroğlu’s poster.
Four politicians are running in Turkey’s 2023 presidential elections: ruling People’s Alliance candidate Erdoğan, opposition bloc Nation Alliance’s candidate Kılıçdaroğlu, Homeland Party leader Muharrem İnce and far-right ATA Alliance’s candidate Sinan Oğan.
Opposition politicians often criticize Erdoğan and his party for creating a skewed playing field run-up to the elections because the AKP uses state resources in election campaigns.
Source: Duvar
