Erdogan hints at constitutional change of 50%+1 vote in elections

• 

In a statement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, he indicated the possibility of the country amending the constitution to change the 50%+1 vote requirement in presidential votes after the elections on Sunday.

"A step could be taken regarding this matter. It requires a constitutional amendment and we may take action after the elections," he said, replying to a question about his interest in changing the law that requires candidates to receive over 50% of the vote. 

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."

In a separate yet related context, Erdogan asserted that Turkey is "friends with America and Russia and those who are spiteful toward us in the West," during a live broadcast which came after his opponent and opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, accused Russia of meddling in the elections. 

Kilicdaroglu's allegation came after Muharrem Ince, a new presidential candidate, announced his withdrawal from the presidential race because of being targetted by an online smear campaign. 

Read next: Revisionism in the 'DNA' of all Turkish parties: Greek PM

"Dear Russian friends, you are behind the montages, conspiracies, deep fakes, and tapes that were exposed in this country yesterday. If you want our friendship after May 15, get your hands off the Turkish state. We are still in favor of cooperation and friendship," Kemal Kilicdaroglu said in a tweet. 

Sevgili Rus Dostlarımız,
Dün bu ülkede ortaya saçılan montajlar, kumpaslar, Deep Fake içerikler, kasetlerin arkasında siz varsınız. Eğer 15 Mayıs sonrası dostluğumuzun devamını istiyorsanız, elinizi Türk’ün devletinden çekin. Biz hala işbirlikten ve dostluktan yanayız.

— Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (@kilicdarogluk) May 11, 2023

In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov rejected the accusations in a statement and said Russia "officially declare that there can be no question of any intervention. And if someone provided Mr. Kilicdaroglu with such information, then they are liars."

The spokesperson added that Moscow values the relationship it has with Turkey "very, very much because the Republic of Turkey has so far taken a very responsible, sovereign and thoughtful position on a whole range of regional and global problems that we face."

Peskov assured that Russia would not harm Ankara in any way.

Erdogan then jumped to shame the candidate: "And now Kemal has started teasing Russia. He says that Russia is influencing the elections [in Turkey]. How are you not ashamed? Shame on you. What will you say if we say that America, England and Germany are influencing the elections?"

Read more: Ankara to keep ties with Moscow despite election results: Opposition