Turkish election ends in inconclusive

No candidate achieved the 50% threshold needed to win Turkey's presidential election, forcing a second round of voting.

Türkiye's Supreme Election Council (YSK) Chairman Ahmet Yener said today that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 49.52% of the vote in the general election. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's main rival, received 44.88% of the vote, while nationalist candidate Sinan Ogan came in third with 5.2%.

Mr Yener said there were about 35,000 votes left to be counted, but that would not affect the final result. With no candidate receiving the 50% minimum needed to win, Türkiye will hold a second round of elections on May 28.

President Erdogan speaks to supporters in the Turkish capital Ankara on May 15. Photo: AFP

President Erdogan won even in areas hardest hit by the earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people in February, where people expressed anger at the government’s slow response to the disaster. His right-wing party also retained control of parliament through a coalition with the nationalists.

"Don't despair. We will stand up and continue together in the election," Mr Kilicdaroglu told supporters.

Türkiye holds elections every five years. More than 65 million Turkish citizens were eligible to vote in this year's election. YSK reported a record turnout of 88.9%.

President Erdogan (left) and CHP candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Photo: CNN

This year’s race poses an unprecedented challenge for President Erdogan, who is facing a series of major economic difficulties. Turkey has suffered a cost-of-living crisis over the past two years, with the currency falling and consumer prices soaring, severely affecting the working class, Mr Erdogan’s main support base.

Kilicdaroglu, a 74-year-old moderate former official, has pledged to revive Türkiye’s faltering economy and restore its democratic institutions. He represents an electoral alliance of six opposition parties, the first time Turkey’s opposition has rallied around a single candidate.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )

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