Erdogan rival vows to expel Syrian refugees to court nationalist voters in Turkey election

Kemal Kilicdaroglu toughens his message considerably since the first stage of the campaign

Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), addresses a press conference at CHP's headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, 18 May 2023. EPA

Turkish secular opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu pledged on Thursday to send back millions of migrants in a bid to win the backing of an ultra-nationalist who helped to steer last weekend's presidential vote to a run-off.

Mr Kilicdaroglu delivered his first public address since a landmark election on Sunday, in which he came almost five points behind President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The opposition put in its best performance in Mr Erdogan's two-decade rule.

But it fell short of expectations set by pre-election polling, leaving the opposition downcast.

Mr Kilicdaroglu, 74, has since revamped his campaign team and toughened his message to win over Turkey's right-wing voters in the May 28 run-off.

He also plans to meet Sinan Ogan, the far-right figure who picked up 5.2 per cent of the vote and is still considering which of the two to endorse.

Mr Kilicdaroglu tried on Thursday to toughen his message considerably from the more inclusive tone he set in the first stage of the campaign.

"Erdogan, you did not protect the borders and honour of the country," the former civil servant said.

"You have deliberately brought more than 10 million refugees to this country … As soon as I come to power, I will send all the refugees home."

Mr Ogan has said he will only back a candidate who cracks down on migrants and fights "terrorism" — a reference to Kurdish militants.

Veteran Turkey watcher Howard Eissenstat of the Middle East Institute said Mr Kilicdaroglu was wooing nationalists by attacking Syrians because Kurds made up an important part of his base.

"The Kurds are a big part of his coalition," Mr Eissenstat said.

"But the Syrians are a relatively safe target because, for the large part, they cannot vote."

Voting in Turkey's presidential election - in pictures

People walk under posters showing Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara. The country is holding its first presidential run-off election after neither candidate earned more than 50 per cent of the vote in the May 14 election. Getty

A couple walk under a poster of Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, the day after the general election, in Ankara. EPA

People sit on a bench by posters showing Mr Kilicdaroglu in Ankara. Getty

The bustling Taksim area of Istanbul. Turkey will hold its first presidential run-off election after neither candidate earned more than 50 per cent of the vote this week. Getty

People eat ice cream in Istanbul as the country prepares for an election run-off later this month. Getty

People stand in front of the Guven Monument in Ankara. Getty

The second round of voting will be held on May 28. Getty

A passenger reads a newspaper on a ferry across the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Bloomberg

Politics dominates the headlines in Istanbul on the day after the presidential elections. AP

A billboard featuring presidential candidate Mr Kilicdaroglu in Istanbul. AP

A run-off for the presidency was expected to lead to volatility for the Turkish lira. AP

Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gather at the AK Party's headquarters in Istanbul on election night. Getty

Mr Erdogan, accompanied by his wife Emine, addresses supporters in Ankara. Photo: Turkish Presidential Press Office

Election officials count ballots in Diyarbakir after polls closed in Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections. AFP

Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, speaks to the media in Ankara. EPA

Mr Erdogan's supporters wave flags outside the AK Party's headquarters in Ankara. Reuters

Mr Erdogan casts his vote in Istanbul on Sunday. Getty

Mr Kilicdaroglu votes in Ankara. Getty

People wait for Mr Erdogan outside a polling station in Istanbul. Reuters

A man holds a ballot at a polling station in Hatay. Reuters

A ballot paper featuring candidates for Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections. Reuters

Voting began in Turkey's presidential election on Sunday morning. Reuters

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station in Hatay. Reuters

Hatay is one of the Turkish regions that were worst-affected by February's earthquake. Reuters

Voters take a closer look at the candidates on the ballot, in Ankara. Getty

A ballot paper with Mr Erdogan, Muharrem Ince, Mr Kilicdaroglu and Sinan Ogan. Getty

Voters queue outside a polling station in Istanbul. Reuters

Bags containing blank ballots are stored at a temporary polling station in the courtyard of a quake-damaged school in Hatay. Reuters

An election worker prepares a temporary polling station in Hatay. Reuters

Mr Erdogan and his Islamic-rooted party were praised across large parts of the Muslim world for embracing those fleeing conflicts in countries such as Syria.

Turkey's five-million refugee and migrant population became the world's largest in the past decade.

A 2016 deal between Ankara and the EU helped to stem the continent's migrant crisis by allowing those trying to reach Western Europe to settle in Turkey.

Turkey won billions of euros in funding from Brussels for the programme.

But an economic crisis that increased as the election neared sent anti-migrant sentiment soaring.

Mr Erdogan's government has tried to find a middle ground.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Thursday that Turkey had already sent more than half a million Syrians back.

"We are not going to make Turkey into a refugee warehouse and we have not done so to date. But the Syrians are our brothers," Mr Soylu said.

"We cannot send them to their deaths. And we have not. Tayyip Erdogan doesn't want to be remembered as a leader who sent Syrians to their deaths."

Mr Eissenstat said Mr Erdogan looked comfortable heading into the run-off and did not need to radically change his tone.

"He felt like he was in danger before Sunday," the analyst said.

"I don't feel like he feels that way any more."