President Erdogan moved around a number of government personnel in a wave of late-night appointments. The Turkish ambassador to Mali was replaced by another candidate, while four inspector’s roles found open in the Ministry of Education were filled.
A poster of presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu hanging from a four-story building in the Dikili region of Izmir province was hidden behind an Erdogan poster held up by two cranes.
Minister of the Interior Suleyman Soylu announced:
“There are only so many green passports we can issue to our citizens. The world has allotted us a limited number of them. We are about to exceed this number. In fact we can say we have exceeded it… God protect us from the outcome where all green passports become special (hususi) passports.“
This is a mysterious statement. The green Turkish passport is in fact the same thing as a special Turkish passport. It is distinct from the standard red because it is issued only to civil servants of the government who achieve a degree of seniority, as well as to qualified members of their immediate families. Holders of a green passport can travel visa-free to most European countries, and are exempt from certain additional fees.
A retired officer of the Turkish military recently posted a video on social media relating how he was interrogated by airport security in Germany because an ISIS member was apprehended in Europe using the same green passport which, in previous years, was a privilege to carry.
At a rally in Yalova province, head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahceli threatened:
“The CHP and allied parties will meet a dreaded end on May 14 [election day]… These traitors will receive either of two things: life sentences in prison, or bullets in their bodies.“