Turkey, the presidential elections go to a runoff

2023-05-15 18:21:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

In Turkey, the head of the High Election Board confirmed that the presidential election will go to a runoff after neither Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor his main opposition rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, received more than 50 percent of the votes needed to to be declared the winner. The second round of voting will be held in two weeks, on May 28.

After counting 99.4 percent of the votes inside the country and 84 percent of the votes from abroad, President Erdogan leads with 49.4 percent of the votes.

His opposition rival Kilicdaroglu received 44.9 percent, while the third presidential candidate, nationalist politician Sinan Ogan, received 5.2 percent.

The OSCE-ODHIR observation mission said that the general elections, which were characterized by a high turnout, were well-organized, but, according to the organization's assessments, the current president and the ruling parties enjoyed an unfair advantage.

"In addition, continued restrictions on fundamental freedoms of assembly, organization and expression prevented participation in the elections by some politicians, opposition parties, civil society and independent media, international observers said today," said coordinator Michael Georg Link.

In a speech to his supporters in Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would respect the voters' decision.

"If our country chooses a second round of elections, we will accept it," Mr. Erdogan said.

69-year-old Erdogan, the country's longest-serving leader who has been in power for 20 years, came out with a better-than-expected result.

However, the opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu expressed optimism for a victory in the second round.

"The demand for change is over 50 percent. During the next 15 days, with our people, we will fight to protect freedoms, law and justice," said Mr. Kilicdaroglu.

Nationalist politician Sinan Ogan, who came third, said he would support opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the runoff if he agreed not to make concessions with the pro-Kurdish party.

"We have made it clear that the fight against terrorism and the issue of refugees are our red lines," he said.

The current president Erdogan and his opponent Kilicdaroglu, 74 years old, have described these elections as the most important in the country's history.

"Of course we are unhappy with the whole situation. We expected other results", says Volkan Atilgan, voter.

"See you in 15 days. I think people will have more time to think," says Gultekin Yetim, another voter.

"I want justice and equality. I have a child and the situation in our country is not good. I want the situation to change and we live as we deserve", says a survivor of the earthquake in Turkey.

"I am not at all satisfied with the runoff. I would like our president to win. Let's see what will happen, everything is unclear," says a supporter of Mr. Erdogan.

More than 64 million people, including voters abroad, were eligible to vote in Sunday's election.

According to the Associated Press agency, more than 89 percent of them voted.

The results show that the alliance led by Mr. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party will retain a majority in the 600-seat parliament, although the Turkish parliament lost legislative power after a referendum on changing the country's governing system to an executive presidency./ VOA