Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged victorious in the country’s presidential election, according to unofficial data from the state-run Anadolu Agency.
After failing to secure an outright victory in the first round held on May 14, Erdogan faced a tense run-off against his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
With 97 percent of ballot boxes opened, Erdogan received 52.1 percent of the votes in the second round on Sunday, defeating Kilicdaroglu, who garnered 47.9 percent. It should be noted that the official Supreme Election Council has yet to confirm the results.
Erdogan’s re-election solidifies his position in history, extending his rule for another five years and surpassing the 15-year presidency of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.
As news of Erdogan’s victory spread, supporters gathered at the presidential palace in Ankara, eagerly awaiting his celebratory speech. Prior to that, Erdogan appeared outside his residence in Istanbul’s Uskudar, where he expressed gratitude to his adoring crowd after singing.
The two-month-long election period witnessed one of the most contentious campaigns in recent memory.
Kilicdaroglu successfully formed a powerful coalition of Erdogan’s disillusioned former allies, uniting secular nationalists and religious conservatives.
Erdogan’s strong performance in the first round had defied predictions of his defeat despite the country’s severe cost-of-living crisis. Most opinion polls had suggested his potential downfall, making his near outright victory in the first round particularly remarkable. The election outcome now cements his position as Turkey’s leader for the next five years.
