Prominent Balkan politicians have praised President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and called on Turkish voters to support him in the May 14 elections.
“Turkey needs Erdoğan and so do Bosniaks,” Bakir Izetbegovic, chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and son of the republic’s first president, said in a letter last week.
Highlighting the upcoming vote as a “historic turning point” for Turkey, Izetbegovic claimed that Turkey has become a “powerful actor in international relations” under Erdoğan’s leadership.
“Erdoğan is carrying out the mission entrusted by the late Alija Izetbegovic because he always fraternally and sincerely defends Bosniaks and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Izetbegovic said.
Addressing “the majority of the Turkish people,” he continued, “I think you are aware of Erdoğan’s magnificent role in Turkey’s resurrection and rise in all fields. Under his leadership, the brotherly Turkish state and people strengthened their honor and self-confidence. have strengthened democracy and renewed their system of values guaranteeing long-term development.
Izetbegovic highlighted the progress made by the Turkish economy in a short time and said the rapid development of infrastructure and industry, educational reforms and the rise of the defense industry were “a testimony of this advanced”.
Turkey’s growing importance on the international stage has had a massive impact on the entire Muslim world, which is now renewing its autonomy and endorsing its values, according to the SDA leader.
“A powerful and developed Turkey under Erdoğan is also a very important element in Balkan relations,” he noted and praised Erdoğan’s ability to establish cooperation and establish friendly relations with all Balkan nations.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosniaks of Sanjak witness Erdoğan’s friendship, as well as the support and assistance that Turkey has provided. I urge my fellow Bosniaks to vote in the upcoming elections and support Erdoğan “, did he declare.
Following Izetbegovic, the leader of the North Macedonian Alternative Party, Afrim Gashi, also claimed that Turkey had “achieved incredible things over the two decades and that Albanians living in the Balkans have also benefited from this progress “.
“I call on Turkish citizens and Albanians in Turkey to support this approach of the Turkish state towards our nation, to support this Turkey and to once again elect outgoing President Erdoğan as head of state,” he said. he declared in a video message.
Another North Macedonian politician, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hüsnü Ismail, highlighted the “unprecedented progress” that Turkey under Erdoğan has made in education, healthcare, industry and of defense technology, as well as the “high position” in foreign policy.
“We are grateful to Turkey for its support to the Balkan countries, to Kosovo in its war of independence and to the Albanians during the construction of the Albanian republic,” Ismail noted.
He urged Albanian and Turkish citizens to vote for Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) because of his “sincere fraternal legality towards Albanians around the world.”
Skender Rexhepi, independent MP from North Macedonia, highlighted the strategic partnership between Turkey and the Balkan states and the impact of the outcome of the May 14 vote on the wider Balkan world.
“The Turkish government, through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), has made key investments in infrastructure, education, culture, religion and preservation of spiritual heritage. Turkey has been an exemplary nation throughout the 21 years of AK Party administration, contributing to the well-being of its own citizens and the people of fraternal nations,” Rexhepi explained.
“I urge all Turkish citizens to support Erdoğan and the AKP in this election so that you can make history and put your stamp on Turkey’s golden century,” he said.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also expressed his support for Erdoğan, saying in a video message this week that Erdoğan had drawn the eyes of the world to Turkey’s wonderful and exemplary transformation “with his vision, his courage, his will and his tireless work.
Turkey’s commendable strength and rise not only beautifies Turkey and its people, but also arouses curiosity regarding the great difficulties and significant challenges related to the formation, maintenance and integrity of Turkey’s legitimate institutions and even to the life of President Erdoğan, Rama emphasized.
“I wholeheartedly hope that voters will take into account the indispensable role of Turkey in their choices in the fragile balances of this difficult period for the Balkans and the whole of Europe,” he added.
Turkey maintains friendly relations with many Balkan countries who support each other in good and bad times, such as natural disasters. Many people in the region sent condolences and provided humanitarian aid when the February 6 earthquakes struck southeastern Turkey and cost thousands of lives.
In four days, 61 million registered voters, including around 5 million newcomers, will go to the polls to elect Turkey’s 13th president and some 600 deputies.
Four candidates are in the race: Erdoğan and main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, as well as two other minor candidates.
Opinion polls suggest a neck-and-neck race between Kılıçdaroğlu and Erdoğan, who was ahead of his rival by more than four points.
Analysts say the vote is the most important Turkey has seen in generations.
The official turnout on the morning of the last day of overseas voting on Tuesday exceeded 51%, slightly higher than in the last general elections won by Erdoğan in 2018.