The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has emerged victorious in the recent election following a tense run-off, according to unofficial data from the state-run Anadolu Agency and the country’s Supreme Election Council.
After failing to secure more than 50 percent of votes required for an outright win in the first round held on May 14, Erdogan received 52.14 percent of votes in the second round on Sunday, beating his rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who won 47.86 percent.
Tayyip Erdogan re-elected as President of Turkey: Key Points
- Erdogan is set to extend his rule by another five years, joining the likes of Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who served for 15 years.
- The result is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
- Erdogan made an appearance outside his residence in Istanbul’s Uskudar, where he sang and thanked his supporters for their trust in him.
- He declared that all 85 million citizens of the country were “victors” of the two rounds of voting held on May 14 and May 28.
- Erdogan stated that the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) will be held accountable for its poor performance and that urgent action was needed to address inflation in the country.
About the Campaign:
- The campaign preceding the two-month election period was highly combative, with Erdogan referring to his opponent as being supported by “terrorists” and Kilicdaroglu calling Erdogan a “coward”.
- The election, which went to a second stage due to a lack of a clear majority, saw Erdogan win with around 53.7 percent of the vote.
- On May 14, a parliamentary poll was held alongside the leadership race, making the elections, which took place during the 100th anniversary of the republic’s foundation, the most significant ones in recent Turkish history.
- The candidates were presented as either ensuring continuity of Erdogan’s two-decade rule or a return to a parliamentary system.
- Over 64 million voters at home and abroad were eligible to vote amidst a challenging backdrop that included a cost-of-living crisis and earthquakes that devastated the country’s southeast.
- Erdogan promised further development, while Kilicdaroglu pledged democratisation and an end to Erdogan’s “one-man rule.” Erdogan eventually won with 49.5 percent of the vote, while Kilicdaroglu secured 44.9 percent.
The nationalist tone leading up to the presidential run-off was aimed at securing the support of Sinan Ogan’s voters, who ultimately backed Erdogan. Erdogan’s next step is to regain control of cities like Istanbul and Ankara in the upcoming local elections.
Source: www.aljazeera.com
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