Preliminary results show that both incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the center-left opposition, won less than 50% of the vote. And the elections will go to a second round in two weeks.
The elections were nevertheless marked by a record participation of over 85%, but also by a tense and polarized atmosphere.
Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey since 2003 with an iron fist and authoritarian tendencies, has appealed to nationalism and religion to mobilize his supporters. He promised to continue to fight terrorism and defend Turkey’s interests in the region. He accused the opposition of being traitors and being coordinated by the White House to divide the country.
Kilicdaroglu, who is backed by a broad coalition of left and right-wing parties united against Erdogan, has promised change and democracy. He criticized Erdogan’s government for the economic crisis, the rampant inflation, the depreciation of the lira and the violation of human rights. He pleaded for a return to the parliamentary system and for a reconciliation with the Kurdish minority.
Analyzing the results of the first round, political observers say that Erdogan faces the biggest test of his career and that Kilicdaroglu has a real chance to defeat him in the second round. They say the vote reflects popular dissatisfaction with the economic and social situation in Turkey and a desire for change after two decades of Erdogan’s rule.
Turkey is a strategic country on the border between Europe and Asia, a NATO member and a candidate for joining the European Union. The outcome of the presidential election will have a major impact on Turkey’s relations with its neighbors and its international partners.
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