Overcoming the biggest electoral challenge, Tayyip Erdogan won Turkey’s presidential election on Sunday. Thousands of people in the Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir, in Turkey’s south-east, took to the streets to celebrate the result.
Preliminary results showed that the Turkish president overcame the challenges of a resurgent opposition, mounting concerns about the economy and a plunging lira to win 52.5 per cent of the vote with 97.6 per cent of ballot boxes opened. Mr Erdogan’s main challenger, Muharrem Ince, won 30.8 per cent.
Electoral board Chairman Sadi Guven said that with more than 97 percent of votes counted, Erdogan had an absolute majority. Unofficial results broadcast on Turkish television also gave his ruling party and its alliance partner a majority in parliament.
The main opposition party did not immediately concede defeat. But after initially saying Erdogan would fall well short of a first-round victory, it said simply it would continue its democratic struggle “whatever the result”.
“Starting tomorrow, we will start working to realize the promises we made our people,” Erdogan told flag-waving supporters in a victory speech delivered from the balcony of his ruling AK Party’s headquarters in Ankara shortly after 3 a.m.
Erdogan, 64, the most popular but also the most divisive politician in modern Turkey, added that Turkish forces would continue to “liberate Syrian lands” so that the 3.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey could return home safely.
He also pledged that authorities, who have waged a nationwide crackdown since a failed military coup two years ago, would act more decisively against terrorist organizations.
Erdogan’s victory paves the way for another five-year term. Under the new constitution, he could serve a further term from 2023, taking him to 2028.
The results also showed that Mr Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) will have a majority in parliament with the help of its allies from an ultranationalist party.
Mr Ince vociferously challenged the results as they came in on Sunday night, accusing the state-run Anadolu Agency of manipulating the results to show a false lead for the president.
>Juthy Saha
Erdogan Wins Turkey's Presidential Election
Will You Support Our Work?
People turns to WhatsOn to understand what's goingOn? We have been empowering through hope & understanding for the last forty years. We’re an independent social enterprise & our journalism is powered by our supporters. Financial contributions from our readers allows us to keep our journalism free for all & to change the world for better. Please support us, with your donation - no matter how small. Your donation makes a real difference, it empowers our activist & academy, and engages wider community groups, & universities - connecting more people. WhatsOn is a change maker, let’s get our future back together!
