Opposition’s candidate Kılıçdaroğlu takes the stage for over 7 hours to take questions from young voters, on BaBaLaTV, one of the nation’s most watched internet shows. BaBaLaTV is frequently home to debates, Q&A’s from the audience, and occasionally, very tough questions and on the spot fact-checks that makes it risky territory for politicians.
As Turkey’s runoff election is mere days away Kılıçdaroğlu takes up BaBaLaTV on their offer to appear on stage; an offer he had previously refused citing “concerns regarding provocations”. This time Kılıçdaroğlu accepted BaBaLaTV’s host Oğuzhan Uğur’s invitation extended via Twitter. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, a spry 74 year old veteran orator, was on the stage for over 7 hours.
Prior to the event, Oğuzhan Uğur tweeted: “Currently there are 243 AKP, 26 Nation Party, 81 MHP, 41 aggrieved CHP, and 27 Victory party members. There will be national and international members of the press. We will accept 3 video questions (may be more). And 10 of my friends I did a solid for, will be in the audience.”
However, AKP members were short of the projected numbers.Some AKP voters in the audience alleged that “The theater is full of CHP youth, the is a CHP rally!” However, their fears were for not as many AKP voters in the audience got the spotlight to ask hard questions; particularly about nationalism, immigration and terrorism.
7 hour performance
According to Medyascope’s Edanur Tanış, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu performed admirably throughout the event. The presidential hopeful was direct, detailed and used many examples and anecdotes. Kılıçdaroğlu maintained decorum throughout the night and despite leaving some wanting more on some questions, he left no question unanswered. While Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu began in his usually calm and mild demeanor, when the subject turned to nationalism, Kemalism and illegal immigration, his speech turned fiery.
Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu took notes for every question directed at him and despite the hours-long event, he showed no signs of tiring. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu came prepared for questions on illegal immigration and terrorism. Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu came armed with videos on the subject of illegal immigration as it has been the opposition’s seeming strategy to hammer away at the government’s relaxed position on the matter. Kılıçdaroğlu also had his answers ready on terrorism, as the ruling coalition has been alleging the opposition of colluding with terrorists on account of the opposition’s cooperation with the country’s Kurdish party, HDP to secure the Kurdish vote.
The Trolls
The most spectacular point during the event came early. An AKP voter in the audience received a warning from the host for allegedly doing a live broadcast on twitter and spreading misinformation; dubbed a “Troll” by Uğur. Mr. Uğur later realized that the young man was guilty of no such infraction and apologized. However, after the young man continued his tweets indicating that the theater was full of only CHP voters and CHP voters alone, he received a secondary warning.
The two men evidently proceeded to work things out between them, but the AKP voter alleged that he had been threatened, targeted and feared for his safety and wished to leave the event. Uğur responded by assuring that his safety was not at all at risk, but if he wished to leave, he was welcome to do so. The young man walked out of the event to thunderous applause from the audience, seemingly approving of him leaving.
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The incident made rounds on social media soon after and got picked up by many pro-government accounts; the accuracy of details degrading over time. The young man posted on his Twitter account that he would press charges against Uğur, while the pro-government media organizations were very much one-sided on the incident.
Mr. Uğur ended the event at 4 AM, however it appears that Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu still had it in him to continue as he remained on stage for about half an hour longer after and continued answering questions.
Written for Medyascope by Edanur Tanış
