US To Attempt Coup In Turkey During Presidential Election - Turkish Interior Minister

ISTANBUL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th May, 2023) Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Wednesday that on May 14, the United States will attempt to finish the coup d'etat they tried during the 2016 presidential election.

"They failed to do it during the attempted coup; now they will try it again during the election. (Will it be) only here (in Turkey)? They tried to do it in Hungary. (Hungarian President Viktor) Orban threw (George) Soros out of Hungary; they nominated three candidates (for presidency) against Orban," he said in an interview with Habertürk tv channel.� �

�Soylu added that Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter had warned him about the US providing financial support for Turkish non-governmental organizations in order to interfere with the upcoming election. He also accused the US of orchestrating coups in Turkey in 1960 and 1971.

The minister said that there was a recording of a meeting between a person "now making many statements" with an ambassador "of one interested country," who was briefed on "how to make a mess" four months prior by his interior minister during the latter's visit to Turkey.

However, Soylu refused to name the country and the person in question.

Meanwhile, a poll conducted by Turkish company Ivem showed that incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could win the second round 3% ahead of the opposing candidate.

Presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Turkey on May 14. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, put forward by a seven-party opposition alliance, is considered Erdogan's main opponent. The list of presidential candidates also includes Ince and Sinan Ogan of the ATA Alliance. If none of them manages to win more than 50% of votes, a second round will be scheduled on May 28.�