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Erdogan’s threats to replace elected mayors could backfire

Turkey's president is reviving a bitter debate by threatening to nullify local election results in municipalities that elect mayors from pro-Kurdish parties.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak throw gifts during a rally for the upcoming local elections in Istanbul, Turkey, February 16, 2019. REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC1AC12E5450
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DIYARBAKIR, Turkey — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could wind up facing voter backlash over his latest inflammatory statements regarding Turkey’s pro-Kurdish political parties.

At a Feb. 26 election rally in the town of Yozgat, Erdogan said that if mayoral candidates from pro-Kurdish parties win, he will replace them with appointed trustees. This attempt at intimidation seems to have already backfired on him in predominantly Kurdish regions.

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