Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Fars News Agency, citing a source: Reuters' report about a phone call between Witkoff and Araghchi is false
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone launched a missile strike on the town of Houla
The Israeli military command claims that air defenses intercepted a drone over the Haifa area, no sirens sounded in accordance with protocol
Israeli media: A loud explosion was heard in the Krayot, authorities are investigating whether it was caused by a drone, however sirens did not sound
Iranian military official: Footage of missile explosions confirms the use of enhanced warheads and high explosives
Iranian military official: These missiles were able to bypass anti-ballistic missile air defense systems such as THAAD, Arrow, and David's Sling.
Iranian military official: Data from the operations room and field information indicate that more than 70% of the missiles accurately hit their targets
Iranian military official: The missiles were specifically manufactured to target the Zionist entity's sites, and their production was supervised by the martyred commander, Major General Hajizadeh
Fars News Agency, citing an Iranian military official: Iran used new-generation missiles with high accuracy and full guidance in the attack it launched on "Israel" on Thursday morning
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps in Iran, Major General Mohammad Pakpour: We shall tread the path of our martyred leaders, Bagheri, Salami, Hajizadeh, and Rashid, with utmost strength

Sweden meddling in Turkish election, Ankara proclaims

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 May 2023 22:57
3 Min Read

Turkey accuses Sweden of election meddling, as it sees that Stockholm wants to influence the vote in Turkey to oust incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

  • x
  • Supporters of the pro-secular main opposition party, the Republican People's Party, watch election results on a cellphone, outside party headquarters, in Ankara, Turkey, May 14, 2023 (AP)
    Supporters of the pro-secular main opposition party, the Republican People's Party, watch election results on a cellphone, outside party headquarters, in Ankara, Turkey, May 14, 2023 (AP)

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu has accused Sweden of meddling in his country's elections after the runoff election was set for next Sunday.

Soylu, a member of the ruling AKP party, accused election monitors from the Swedish Oy ve Otesi (vote and Beyond) of putting pressure on voters at polling places.

"The Swedish state is funding this Oy ve Otesi association. Sending it money, but why? To interfere in the election in Turkey. It is so obvious and clear," the minister told a campaign rally in Istanbul, as quoted by the Aydinlik newspaper.

Soylu is renowned for his constant harsh criticism of the West, accusing the United States on Wednesday of trying to influence the election that has seen President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, go into a runoff election that will be held on Sunday.

Sweden has been pushing for NATO accession for months, and that requires unanimous approval from all of the alliance's members. Though it applied with Finland to join NATO, Sweden was left in the dust after Turkey was the sole country not to agree to its accession after approving Finland's bid. 

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin claimed that Finland still wants to join NATO with Sweden, noting that "we have sent a very clear signal and a very clear message to Turkey and also to Hungary... that we want to enter NATO together and this is in the interest of everyone."

Related News

Israeli aircraft violate Turkish airspace, fighter jets scrambled

Turkey to boost missile arsenal, reinforce deterrence: Erdogan

Days later, Finland became a member of NATO and Stockholm was still seeking membership.

Ankara suspended negotiations with Sweden in outrage following rallies attacking the Turkish leadership in Stockholm and the burning of the holy Quran outside Turkey's embassy, but the talks resumed in Brussels on March 9.

Turkey has opposed Sweden's bid, accusing Stockholm of providing a safe haven for what it considers "terrorists", especially members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Erdogan emphasized on several occasions that the ratification of Sweden's membership in NATO will depend on Stockholm's future actions.

Erdogan closed the first round with 49.51% of the votes, with Kilicdaroglu placing second at 44.88%, followed by Sinan Ogan at 5.17%.

After no candidate won an absolute majority (50% +1) of the votes in the Turkish elections, the head of the nation's electoral authority announced that a runoff will take place on May 28, 2023.  

In the upcoming second round, it is important to consider that Erdogan is expected to have an advantageous position over Kilicdaroglu due to his lead in the first round and the positive parliamentary results favoring the ruling coalition in contrast to the opposition.

The outcome came as a surprise and disappointment to the opposition, who had set high expectations for both the presidential and parliamentary elections. In the presidential race, the opposition was hopeful that even if they couldn't secure victory in the first round, Kilicdaroglu would at least receive the highest number of votes.

  • Turkey
  • Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
  • Nato
  • Finland
  • Sweden
  • Kemal Kilicdaroglu

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Netanyahu stuns by postponing son’s wedding over Iran war
Politics

Netanyahu sparks outrage citing son’s wedding delay as Iran war cost

French court postpones verdict to July 17 on Georges Abdallah
Europe

French court postpones verdict on Georges Abdallah to July 17

Perseverance to shorten war: Iran's Larijani
Politics

Larijani says Iran to hold IAEA chief accountable after war ends

Damage to the Weizmann Institute of Science from an Iranian missile strike in Rehovot, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Politics

'Catastrophic loss': Iranian blow to Weizmann’s war-linked facilities

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS