The leader of Turkiye’s ultranationalist Victory Party has endorsed the opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, breaking ranks with the party’s former presidential hopeful Sinan Ogan, who endorsed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Umit’s recent statement about laying mines on the Turkiye-Syria borders to prevent any crossing of refugees fueled popular anger.

Umit Ozdag is one of the most racist figures in Turkiye, and he has been vocal and spreading hate speech against Syrians extensively.

The Turkish public’s discontent with foreigners residing in Turkey has recently increased under the influence of the growing economic problems and the provocative stances of some far-right Turkish politicians.