Ottoman-inspired candidates fail in pre-election race

ISTANBUL

Several candidates had launched Ottoman-themed campaigns to be nominated for the AKP. However, none of the “Ottomans” were able to break the glass ceiling of modern politics when the ruling party announced its candidates for the June 7 general elections on April 7.


Ersin Karababa, who nominated himself as an AKP candidate from the northern province of Tokat, had appeared on posters dressed as a sultan from the 1600s or the 1700s. The AKP list in Tokat did not include Karababa.


For some observers, Ebuzer Aydın from the eastern province of Malatya had a chance with his assertive campaign poster reading “Allah is my reference,” but he was ultimately ignored by the AKP as well.