Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been re-elected as Turkey's president. The 69-year-old, who has been in office since 2014, ridiculed his opponent as he gave a speech declaring victory this evening (May 28).
Mr Erdogan, who previously served as Turkish Prime Minister from 2003 to 2014, received 52% of the vote with almost 99% of ballot boxes opened - according to competing news agencies. They reported that his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, received 48% of the vote.
The result comes in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that levelled entire cities earlier this year. The country is also facing high inflation, while Mr Erdogan's rule is seen by many as authoritarian.
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In his first comments since the polls closed, Mr Erdogan spoke to supporters on a campaign bus outside his home in Istanbul. “I thank each member of our nation for entrusting me with the responsibility to govern this country once again for the upcoming five years,” he said.
He ridiculed his challenger for his loss, saying 'bye bye bye, Kemal', as supporters booed. “The only winner today is Turkey,” Mr Erdogan added.
He promised to work hard for Turkey’s second century. The country marks its centennial this year.
“No-one can look down on our nation,” he said. Mr Kilicdaroglu said the election was 'the most unjust ever', with all state resources mobilised for Mr Erdogan.
“We will continue to be at the forefront of this struggle until real democracy comes to our country,” he said in Ankara. He thanked the more than 25 million people who voted for him and asked them to 'remain upright'.
The people have shown their will 'to change an authoritarian government despite all the pressures', he said. Supporters of the divisive populist were celebrating even before the final results arrived, waving Turkish or ruling party flags, and honking car horns, chanting his name and 'in the name of God, God is great'.
Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban congratulated him via Twitter for an 'unquestionable election victory', and Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, wished the Turkish president success in a tweet. Other congratulations came from in from Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Libya, Algeria, Serbia and Uzbekistan.
The two candidates offered sharply different visions of the country’s future, and its recent past. Critics blame Mr Erdogan’s unconventional economic policies for skyrocketing inflation that has fuelled a cost-of-living crisis.
Many also blamed his government for a slow response to the earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey. Mr Erdogan has retained the backing of conservative voters who remain devoted to him for lifting Islam’s profile in Turkey, which was founded on secular principles, and for raising the country’s influence in world politics.
Mr Erdogan could remain in power until 2028. Mr Kilicdaroglu had pledged to revert to 'more conventional' policies and to improve ties with the West.
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