Election expression of Turkey democratic maturity: Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan underlines that Turkey's voting process is a clear indication of its democratic maturity as his standing staggers as the leading candidate.
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Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shout slogans outside the headquarters of AK Party in Istanbul, Turkey, May 14, 2023 (AP)
The fact that the 14 May elections took place in the form of a great feast of democracy with peace and quiet is an expression of the democratic maturity of our Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday in the heat of the election.
"While the election was held in such a positive and democratic atmosphere and the vote counting is still going on, trying to announce results hastily means usurpation of the national will," the Turkish leader underlined as he leads the polls by a very low margin.
"We are pleased that the favor of our nation is reflected in the ongoing vote count," Erdogan added.
This comes after the Turkish leader indicated that it was possible for the country to amend its constitution to change the 50%+1 vote requirement in the presidential vote after Sunday's election.
"I ask all of my litigants and colleagues to stay at the ballot boxes, no matter what until the results are officially finalized," Erdogan underlined.
Moreover, the leader congratulated all the Turkish citizens who voted in the name of democracy and take part in the election work, "and I express my gratitude to each and every one of them."
The presidential system dates back to its establishment on June 24, 2018, when the country switched its administrative structure through an election and abandoned the parliamentary system.
When the president was asked about his not leaving office in case the opposition wins, he asserted that he considers any result that comes out of the ballot box as "legitimate."
Some 973 districts and 1,094 district election boards held a total of 191,885 ballot boxes to elect a new president and fresh members of parliament, who will serve a term of five years.
A combined total of over 64.1 million voters are eligible to vote both in the country and abroad, including around 4.9 million who will vote for the first time in Turkey. The number of imprisoned voters is 53,172.
According to a poll by the Areda research organization, 51.3% of respondents planned to vote for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the first round of elections, while 44.2% plan to vote for the major opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Sinan Ogan, the third contender, might earn about 4% of the vote.
