Türkiye’s elections end without security incidents

Presidential elections have ended today in Türkiye without security incidents as electoral officials have started the vote counting in an decisive day for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who faces the biggest political challenge of his two-decade rule.

• May 14, 2023
• CDT11:17 (GMT) -0400

• Published by: Luis Linares Petrov

His rivals are opposition leaders Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP); Muharrem Ince, from the Memleket Party, and Sinan Ogan, candidate of the Ata Ittifaki bloc.

Polls opened for more than 64 million people eligible to vote to elect the chief executive and parliament for a five-year term.

Polling officially closed at 17:00 local time, but due to long voter queues the Istanbul Bar Association said people waiting in line would be allowed to cast their ballot.

After polls closed Erdogan addressed supporters in Twitter: “The voting process has been completed throughout the country in a way that befits our democracy,” he stressed, and added: “Now, as always, it is time to firmly protect the ballot boxes. Until the results are finalized, we will continue to protect the will of our people.”

In the event that no one obtains 50 percent of the necessary votes for victory, a runoff will take place two weeks later.

Erdogan, who has remained in power for two decades, focused his agenda on the economic sector, especially on reducing the inflation and boosting growth. He also promises the appointment of new members in the executive.

Regarding foreign policy, if Erdogan is elected, he will reinforce his international strategies as one of the guarantor countries of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, aimed at supplying grain, food and fertilizers, and will seek mediation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Kilicdaroglu, seen as his main rival, said during the political campaign he would seek closer rapprochement with the European Union, the United States and NATO.

Kilicdaroglu, 74, aims to eliminate visas between Türkiye and Europe, reinstate the position of prime minister, abolished in a referendum in 2017 and invest Parliament with greater powers.

The government program of Erdogan’s rival contemplates the reduction of inflation, the return of stability to the Turkish lira, the reduction of public spending, the fight against poverty and the reduction of food prices.

According to a poll carried out by the Optimar Research Center between April 1st and 7th, out of 4,745 people interviewed, 45.9 percent would vote for Erdogan, 43.9 percent would choose Kilicdaroglu, 8.3 percent would support Ince and 1.7 percent would vote for Ogan.