Early results from Turkey's closely watched presidential election showed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's support fell below the majority needed for an outright victory, signaling a possible runoff later this month.
With more than 97% of the votes counted on May 14, Mr. Erdogan led with 49.4% of the vote, according to Türkiye's state-run Anadolu Agency. His main rival, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, won 44.9% of the vote.
Thus, with no one winning more than 50% of the vote, Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Kilicdaroglu are likely to meet in the runoff scheduled for May 28, and both have declared that they are ready for this runoff.
Mr. Erdogan, 69, said in a speech early on May 15 (local time) that he believed he could still surpass the 50% threshold to avoid a second round of elections, but “if the masses choose a second round, that is also welcome.”
Election officials count ballots at a polling station after the Turkish general election ended, in Istanbul, May 14, 2023. Photo: Times of Israel
However, the electoral picture in the Eurasian transcontinental country has been complicated by allegations that Anadolu Agency manipulated the figures. Members of Mr Kilicdaroglu's centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP) say the state-run news agency is biased in favour of Mr Erodgan.
“We are ahead,” Mr Kilicdaroglu, 74, who ran as the candidate of a coalition of six opposition parties, wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Mr Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) accused the opposition of “attempting to assassinate the national will” by claiming the state news agency had distorted the results. The party called the opposition’s claims “irresponsible”.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a polling station in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 14, 2023. Photo: Times of Israel
Kemal Kilicdaroglu at a polling station in Ankara, Türkiye, May 14, 2023. Photo: Times of Israel
The presidential vote will determine not only who leads NATO member Türkiye, but also whether it returns to a more secular, democratic path; and how the government will handle a severe cost-of-living crisis and manage crucial relationships with Russia, the Middle East and the West.
The country of 85 million people – already struggling with soaring inflation – now faces two weeks of uncertainty that could rock markets, with analysts predicting volatility in the Turkish lira and stock markets.
“The next two weeks are probably going to be the longest two weeks in Turkish history and a lot is going to happen. I think there will be a big crash in the Istanbul stock market and a lot of currency volatility,” said Hakan Akbas, CEO of consulting firm Strategic Advisory Services .
Minh Duc (According to Fox News, Axios, Reuters)
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