site.btaErdogan's Republican Alliance Shows Muscle in Record 1.7 Million-Strong Rally

The National Garden in the vicinity of ​​the former Ataturk Airport, the largest in Istanbul, saw 1.7 million gather for Sunday's massive rally of the Republican Alliance, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, addressing the gathering and quoting official figures.

Media reported the park had failed to accommodate all who wished to attend and the roads leading to it were blocked by cars and people of all ages.

The leaders of the other participants in the Republican Alliance also took part in the rally: Devlet Bahceli of the Nationalist Action Party, Mustafa Destigi of the Grand Unity Party, Fatih Erbakan of the New Welfare Party and Zekeriya Yapcoglu of the conservatively religious pro-Kurdish Huda-par.

In his speech, Erdogan stressed on the importance of the Istanbul vote for the outcome on the May 14 elections. He made a particular point of the fight against terrorism and the success achieved by Turkiye since the introduction of the presidential system of governance.

The president accused the opposition of carrying out the plans of the FETO terrorist organization (which Ankara authorities assume stands behind the attempted coup in 2016), adding that (the opposition National Alliance candidate) Kemal Kilicdaroglu and his people should not be allowed to split Turkiye.

Erdogan turned to European and Western media which he said constantly tried to belittle the successes and to vilify Turkiye at all levels, and called them to simply look at the rally and see the enthusiasm of all the people gathered there. 

The President also recalled the recent earthquakes and the destruction they had brought, as well as what is being done: 319,000 new houses to be handed over to their owners even this year; another 650,000 new ones are under construction, he said. He also promised to strengthen against earthquakes 1.5 million buildings at risk.

In the speech, which continued for over an hour, the President dwelt on numerous projects implemented over the 20 years' governance of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Currently, USD 100 billion are expected from the implementation of energy and military defence projects, which will lead to improving the economic situation of the people, a new indexation of salaries in July, a raise of pensions and new jobs for the young, Erdogan said. 

Erdogan also said his government is implementing the "Great Istanbul Tunnel Project," which he said "will be the third tube to run through beneath the Sea of Marmara," and called on the people of Istanbul to vote, for they are those who would give the best answer, declaring the rise of the century of Turkiye.

Analysts and journalists consider the participation in Istanbul rallies and indicator of voter attitudes.

The parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkiye are due in precisely one week.

Around 1 million people gathered at a rally before the previous elections won by Erdogan's AKP.