"Turkey's political system and regional context set it apart as a Middle Eastern democracy rather than a Western one. President Erdogan's democratic election as the country's leader is noteworthy in a region where regular elections are not always held.
In contrast, neighboring countries often witness election outcomes with disproportionately high percentages of victory for incumbents, raising concerns about electoral integrity. The fact that Turkey's election process includes a runoff stage further highlights its commitment to transparent and competitive elections, distinguishing it from those characterized by allegations of rigging," Hanna said in a statement.
Accusations of foreign interference in elections can be a contentious issue, and the Turkish opposition, including Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, has blamed their loss on alleged Russian interference. Kılıçdaroğlu specifically accused Russia of spreading misinformation through deepfakes.
Furthermore, his meeting with the American ambassador to Turkey, Jeff Flake, provided an opportunity for President Erdogan to criticize the opposition for collaborating with the United States.
In response to these allegations, President Erdogan claimed that U.S. President Joe Biden instructed his administration to "topple Erdogan." He asserted that this information is known to him and the Turkish people, and suggested that the upcoming election results would provide an answer to Biden's alleged intentions.
While the impact of deepfakes on social media is considered a form of interference, the meeting between Kılıçdaroğlu and the American ambassador in real life raises questions about potential U.S. interference.
