Turkey's Erdogan wins presidential election
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins the presidency, making for his second term as Turkey's president.
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Supporters of the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gather outside the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, May 28, 2023 (AP)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday led his secular, pro-West rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, with all the votes counted in light of the historic run-off election that saw the AKP party overthrowing its rivals both in the presidency and Parliament after garnering the majority of the vote in both elections.
Erdogan announced his victory in a speech addressing his celebrating supporters in front of his home in Istanbul.
Erdogan will remain president of Turkey until 2028 after winning 52,10% of the vote, giving him an entire decade in power after he originally became president in 2014.
With 98,4% of the votes counted, Erdogan's victory was marked by the president taking home 52,10% of the vote while his opponent, Kilicdaroglu, took only %47,90.
The victory for the Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader saw his supporters taking to the streets and celebrating his victory all over the country, including in front of his residence.
Celebrations across #Turkey after Turkish President #Erdogan won the elections. pic.twitter.com/BgS6YuOOHk
— Politics Today (@mypoliticstoday) May 28, 2023
#Turkey's incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins presidential election runoff.
— Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid) May 28, 2023
Celebrations across #Turkiye anticipating @RTErdogan's victory. #اردوغان #الانتخابات_التركيه #AKParti #Mayıs #secim23 #فوزالرييسpic.twitter.com/7FK9pQd0fy https://t.co/IAnX3yQRCi
Turks returned to the polls on Sunday for the runoff round of the Turkish election to decide whether President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will extend his rule or will be unseated by his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu who promised to "restore a more democratic society" in Turkey.
Polls opened at 8 am local time, and the process ended at 5 pm local time, while results are expected to be announced a few hours after polls close.
Polling stations outside Turkey on Wednesday closed after Turkish expatriates took part in the presidential runoff, while the process is underway at the border points until the afternoon.
On May 14, no presidential candidate ensured 50%+1 of the vote in the first round of the elections.
Turkey started on Saturday its electoral silence as campaigns for all parties were concluded.
More than 191,000 ballot boxes are set up in 973 districts and 1,094 electoral boards across the country.
Last week, former presidential candidate Sinan Ogan announced that he would support Erdogan in the presidential runoff, whereas Turkey's Green Left Party YSP renewed its support for Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Ogan, who won 5.2% of the votes in the first round, asked his voters to support Erdogan in the second round.
Many are attributing Erdogan's victory to the move done by his third-party opponent in the first round, though the president had already garnered the majority.
Read next: Round II: Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu heading for presidential runoff
While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Justice and Development AKP ruling party landed 49.34% of votes, Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the opposition's coalition the Republican People's Party CHP was able to garner 45% after more than 98% of the votes were counted.
The preliminary voter turnout in the presidential and legislative elections in the first round exceeded 88% at home and 45% overseas, Turkish state news agency TRT reported.
Meanwhile, Anadolu Agency reported that the turnout rate in the runoff round was 83.8%.
