Erdogan claims presidential victory in Türkiye

2023-05-28 21:18:45

According to the official Turkish Anadolu agency, Mr. Erdogan, in power for twenty years, won 52.1% of the vote, against 47.9% for his opponent Kemal Kiliçdaroglu after counting nearly 99% of the votes.

Perched on a bus outside his home in Istanbul, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, the 69-year-old head of state spoke in front of a sea of ​​red flags waved by an enthusiastic crowd.

Our nation has entrusted us with the responsibility of governing the country for the next five yearshe launched, at the end of an election which forced him for the first time in a second round.

The only winner today is Turkeya conclu M. Erdogan.

Spontaneous rallies formed everywhere in the cities where the Reis triumphed, especially in the heart of Anatolia.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu reacted shortly after to Mr. Erdogan’s speech. He said he was sad for Turkey and will continue to fight for his country.

After noticing his delay in counting votes, he said he looked set to lose the most unfair elections in years.

He believes the results demonstrate the will of the people to get rid of an authoritarian government et he fears the troubles that await Turkey.

Although the results of the election are still not official, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Mr. Erdogan.

This electoral victory is the result of your work at the head of Turkey, and clear evidence of the support of the Turkish people in your efforts to strengthen state sovereignty and pursue an independent foreign policy.a dit M.  Poutine.

Vote counting at an election office in Istanbul.

Photo : Getty Images / Jeff J Mitchell

Despite a strong desire for change from part of the electorate, tired of the economic crisis, restrictions on freedoms and the hyper-presidentialization of a power that has sent tens of thousands of opponents behind bars or in exile, the head of state was the favorite with a five-point lead at the end of the first round on May 14, where he won 49.5% of the vote.

Tired-faced, slow-moving Recep Tayyip Erdogan cast his vote at midday in the Usküdar district on the Asian side of Istanbul. A cheery crowd was waiting for him there, to which the bodyguards distributed toys while the president slipped some banknotes to children.

« No country in the world has participation rates of 90%, Turkey has almost reached them. I ask my fellow citizens to come and vote without weakening. »

— A quote from Recep Tayyip Erdogan, outgoing president

In the first round, participation had reached 87%.

Almost simultaneously, all smiles despite the unfavorable forecasts, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu cast his ballot in Ankara, encouraging his fellow citizens to vote so that true democracy and freedom can come to this country, to get rid of an authoritarian government.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader and main opposition alliance presidential candidate Kemal Kiliçdaroglu waves to supporters after casting his vote in Ankara.

Photo : Getty Images / Chris McGrath

The two candidates called on their supporters to watch over the ballot boxes until the final results. Now is the time to protect our nation’s will above our heads until the last moment! Erdogan tweeted immediately after the polls closed at 5 p.m. local time.

The Erdogan camp has repeatedly described the opposition led by Kiliçdaroglu as terrorist because of the support given to him by the leaders of the pro-Kurdish party HDP.

We call everyone for calm before the countdownlaunched Halis Firet, 56, an observer for Kiliçdaroglu’s party, the CHP, in a polling station in Istanbul.

Outgoing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan votes in Istanbul.

Photo : Getty Images

On the evening of the first round, they had been the subject of numerous verbal challenges from the opposition, which this time decided to post five tellers in front of each ballot box – that is a million observers across the country.

One country, two visions

The people interviewed by theAFP in the queues at the polling stations testified to the polarization of the country after these weeks of campaigning.

In Ankara, Mehmet Emin Ayaz, a 64-year-old entrepreneur, believed important to preserve what has been acquired over the last twenty years in Turkey under the Erdogan era. In contrast, Aysen Gunday, a 61-year-old retiree, wanted to make this election Referendum against the president and chose Kemal Kiliçdaroglu.

Two visions of the country, of society and of governance were offered to the 60 million voters in Turkey (the diaspora has already voted) called to the polls: stability at the risk of autocracy with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, or the return promised to the rule of law and justice, in his words, with his opponent, a 74-year-old former senior civil servant.

No more than during the first round campaign, the economy did not impose itself in the national debate despite inflation around 40% and the plummeting of the national currency which strongly impacts the purchasing power of the population.

Even the areas devastated by the February 6 earthquake, which left at least 50,000 dead and three million displaced, had massively placed their trust in the head of state, who multiplied largesse and promises of reconstruction.

A man stands in front of a Turkish flag in Istanbul on Sunday, election day for the second round of presidential elections.

Photo : Getty Images / Ed Ram

Facing him, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, the democrat grandfather – the Democratic grandpa – as this trained economist with white hair and thin glasses presents himself, seemed dejected by his delay in the first round.

We are less motivated only in the first round, recognized one of his supporters, Bayram Ali Yüce, a 45-year-old welder.

Lacking access to the major media and especially to official television channels, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu battled on Twitter when his supporters tried to remobilize voters by going door-to-door in the big cities.

Faced with this discreet man of Alevi obedience, a branch of Islam considered heretical by the rigorous Sunnis, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has multiplied the gatherings, relying on the transformations he has been able to bring to the country since his accession to power. as Prime Minister in 2003, then as President since 2014.

This second round comes ten years to the day after the start of the major demonstrations of Gezi which had spread throughout the country and had been severely suppressed.