Erdogan's statements fact-checked by non-profit group

Erdogan's statements fact-checked by non-profit group
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Among statements that failed fact-check are claims that voting age was brought down to 18 under AKP, and that no opposition-held municipality took part in relief operations after the 6 Feb. earthquake.

A non-profit fact-checking organization that defines its mission as "improving the information ecosystem" in Turkey released a report on statements by politicians in political campaigns before the elections on 14 May.

The organization titled "Confirmation" says its organizational and editorial processes comply with the principles of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).

Some fact-checked statements of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the results of fact-checking are as follows.

"Voting age brought down to 18 by AKP"

Erdogan claimed on 24 September 2022 that they brought down the voting age to 18, which is not true. The voting age was brought down to 18 in 1995, seven years before Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power.

He claimed on 10 January that the whole world, from Europe to the United States, struggled in 2022 with the worst inflation of the last 70 years, which is not true, as 70% of the countries in the world faced worse inflation in the last 25 years, and 97% in the 1970s.

He said on 8 February, two days after devastating twin earthquakes hit 11 provinces of Turkey, that "It is not possible to be ready for such a disaster." That was disputed by Confirmation who said that the high earthquake risk in the region was known for decades, and a recent 2021 report warned that a 7.4 M earthquake may hit the region. Shortcomings in disaster management after 6 February, and over 20 construction amnesties over years that served to turn a blind eye to illegal buildings were cited.

"Opposition-held municipalities did not come to help after quake"

Erdogan claimed on 29 March that none of the opposition-held municipalities were present in search and rescue or relief operations after the earthquakes, which is not true, as the mayors of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya and Mersin and their teams were in the earthquake zone on 7 February, the day after the quakes hit, and they were engaged in various operations.

He said on 29 March that the rate of women deputies in the Turkish Grand National Assembly rose from 4.1% to 17.4% as a result of their efforts. Confirmation disputed the claim, saying that the biggest contribution in proportional terms was made by the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

He claimed on 29 March that the opposition said they will stop the manufacture of military drones once they come to power, which is not true.

He said on 16 April that Harran University was established during their administration, which is not true as the university was established in 1992, 20 years before AKP came to power.

"We opened the airports of Ankara, Izmir, Antalya to service"

He said on 29 April that Adnan Menderes Airport in the western city of Izmir started operating during their administration, which is not true, since the airport began operations in 1987.

He claimed on 30 April that Ankara's Esenboga Airport started operating during their administration, which is not true, since it began operating in 1955.

He said on 2 May that Antalya Airport started operating during their administration, which is not true, as it began operations in 1960.

"Number of people at the rally 1,700,000"

He claimed in his address at an election rally on 7 May that 1.7 million people were there. Confirmation said the crowd was around 520,000.

He said on 1 May that the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) was in power when a devastating earthquake struck on 17 August 1999 in Marmara region, which is not true.

He claimed in early May that Huda Par, an Islamist party with roots in armed Hezbollah group, was going to run under its own logo on 14 May, which is not true. Huda Par had already made a deal at the time for its candidates to run under AKP.