Syrian refugees coming at centre of Türkiye's presidential vote
None of Türkiye's main
presidential contenders, namely incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and opposition
leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, managed to end the presidential polls in
his favour.
A presidential election
runoff will be organized in Türkiye shortly.
Each of the two
candidates tries to win over undecided voters by inviting attention to the
failings of the other.
This brings up the issue
of Syrian refugees in Türkiye.
There is growing
hostility in this country towards the presence of the refugees. This is why the
two candidates try to use this issue as a rallying point, with each of them
clarifying how he will deal with it while at the office of president.
Refugees
Türkiye hosts a large
number of Syrian refugees. The United Nations estimates the number of Syrian
refugees in Türkiye
at over 3.7 million.
However, Syrian refugees
in Türkiye
face many challenges and difficulties.
One of the biggest
challenges faced by Syrian refugees in Türkiye is access to
basic services, such as healthcare, education and housing.
Although the Turkish
government has provided significant support to Syrian refugees, demand for
basic services far exceeds available supply.
As a result, Syrian
refugees in Türkiye
face poor housing conditions and extreme poverty.
In addition, Syrian
refugees in Türkiye
face difficulties in finding jobs. Although the Turkish government has provided
some support to refugees wishing to work, the high unemployment rate in Türkiye makes it
difficult for refugees to find jobs.
Syrian refugee women in Türkiye face
additional difficulties, including in obtaining jobs and accessing health and
educational services.
Syrian refugee women in Türkiye are also at
risk of domestic violence and sexual exploitation.
Some Syrian refugees face
difficulties in obtaining legal residence permits, others have difficulties in
accessing lawyers and obtaining legal assistance.
Despite these challenges
and difficulties, the Turkish government, the local community and international
organizations are working hard to help Syrian refugees in Türkiye and improve
their situation.
However, this effort
needs more international support.
Kılıçdaroğlu's
position
In his election campaign,
presidential candidate Kılıçdaroğlu made a number
of promises that he said he would strive to implement if he succeeded in
reaching the office of president in his country.
These promises included
visa-free entry of Turkish citizens to the European Union, obtaining
investments in large amounts, up to $300 billion, as well as the return of
Syrians and Afghans to their countries of origin. He even pledged to do this in
a matter of two years from assuming the office of president.
Erdoğan
As for incumbent Erdoğan, he has
announced his intention in advance that he will voluntarily deport about half a
million Syrians from Turkish territory to their country.
Eleven months before the
presidential elections, the ruling Justice and Development Party was protecting
Syrians, considering them a cheap labour force that benefits the Turkish
economy and achieves a kind of economic boom in the country.
However, with the
increase in inflation and poverty, as well as the major crisis that hit Türkiye after the
earthquake of February 6, societal acceptance of Syrian immigrants decreased.
This led to a pronounced change
in the policy of the ruling Justice and Development Party towards this issue.
Growing
importance
Turkish analyst, Murat Erdoğan, said that
opposition parties in Türkiye noticed social rejection of the refugees
early on.
"These parties succeeded
in winning their parliamentary seats after taking sides with the majority of
the people on this issue," Erdoğan he added.
He added that incumbent
president Erdoğan,
too, announced a plan for the voluntary and safe repatriation of Syrians to
their country.
"He brags about this
privately and publicly," the Turkish analyst said.
"He is proud that
the ruling party managed to coordinate the return of large numbers of Syrians
to their country," he added.
