Ultra Nationalists

Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, CHP, addresses a press conference at CHP's headquarters in Ankara, 18 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/NECATI SAVAS

Turkish voters at a polling station in Ankara, Turkey, 14 May 2023, as the country holds simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections. Photo: EPA-EFE/MANUEL DE ALMEIDA

A woman walks past a picture of Turkish opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader and presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu in Diyarbakir, Turkey, 20 March 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

"We will not nominate a candidate in the presidential elections," the Labour and Freedom Alliance said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has led Turkey for the past 20 years, announced during a speech in Izmir on June 9 that he will seek re-election in next year's elections.

Third Time Lucky?

The leader of the Bulgarian GERB party, Boyko Borissov speaks during the press conference after the Parliamentary elections in Sofia, Bulgaria, 12 July 2021. According to the latest data from the Parliamentary elections, Slavi Trifonov party 'There is such a folk', is less than half a percent ahead of GERB party with leader Boiko Borissov. EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

After Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic decided not to attend a summit in Serbia next week, due to cooling Croatia-Serbia relations, the country's Foreign Minister, Vesna Pusic, has stepped in to go instead.

On Tuesday, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will host leaders from Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Chinese Prime Minister, Li Keqiang.

In an apparent response to salvoes by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has strongly refuted any blame for the sufferings of Alevi citizens.

Davutoğlu also again expressed his bewilderment for the Alevi population’s apparent support for the CHP, saying that Alevis have been victimized under CHP-led governments in the past.

The Hague Tribunal has released the Serbian ultra-nationalist Vojislav Seselj on health grounds -although his marathon trial is not yet over.

Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev is "a scoundrel and a lackey of the CIA", said the leader of Russia's Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky for a show on Rossia 1 TV channel.

Zhirinovsky, who is known for his ultra-nationalist stance and rants on various topics, also accused Plevneliev on not knowing Bulgaria's history.

The personal belongings of former revolutionary leaders and assassinated journalists will be exhibited at a temporary “Shame Museum” organized by the Revolutionary 78ers Federation, an organization founded by members of a leftist youth movement.