With the end of the presidential election and the counting of votes in Turkey, none of the candidates can complete 50% of the votes and the election goes to a runoff.
The second round of elections is scheduled to be held two weeks later, on May 28.
According to reports, the participation rate in Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections has reached 93.6% and with 99% of the presidential votes counted, Recep Tayyip Erdogan took 49.35% and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition candidate, took 45% of the votes.
After voting, Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to strengthen democracy in the country by winning this election.
“It is my hope that after counting the votes, we ask God for the best. We ask God for a bright future for our country, our nation and Turkey’s democracy.”
Hours after the announcement of the results, Erdogan told his supporters that he respects the nation’s decision to extend the election to the second round.
Meanwhile, Kemal Kilicdaroglu also emphasized the need of supporting democracy and said that if the elections go to a runoff, he will definitely win.
“I thank my fellow citizens by heart. I thank all those who came to vote. We all miss democracy.”
Meanwhile, Sinan Ogan, the third presidential candidate who took 5.30 per cent of the votes, said that holding a second referendum is very likely and that Turkish nationalists and Ataturkists are the keys to this election.
The May 14th election campaign was mostly focused on domestic issues such as the economy, civil rights, and the February earthquake.
This election has been the biggest challenge for this powerful leader of Turkey after 20 years of Erdogan’s presidency. He faces a lot of criticism and economic interference, which has been exacerbated by the effects of the devastating February 6 earthquake, and inadequate reconstruction efforts.
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