In an interview on Monday, Ogan told Reuters he could only support Kilicdaroglu in the runoff if he agreed to offer no concessions to the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which ran under the Green Left party banner in Sunday’s parliamentary election.
Both Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu are expected to meet Ogan in person in the coming days. Given their conservative views, Erdogan and Ogan are seen as easier allies, even though the president’s alliance includes a small Islamist Kurdish party that Ogan also opposes.
“Ogan is the kingmaker for the second round and he said he would negotiate with both parties… but Erdogan has more to offer,” said Hakan Akbas, managing director of Strategic Advisory Services, an Istanbul-based political consultancy.
