Turkish election ends in inconclusive

No candidate reached the 50% threshold needed to win the presidential election in Turkey, forcing a second round of general elections.

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

Mr. Yener said that there were still about 35,000 votes yet to be counted, but this would not affect the final result. The fact that no candidate received the minimum 50% of the vote to win meant Türkiye had to hold a second round of general elections on May 28th.

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

President Erdogan won even in the areas hardest hit by the earthquake in February that killed more than 50,000 people, where residents expressed anger at the government's slow response to the disaster. Erdogan's right-wing party also maintained control of parliament through an alliance with nationalist factions.

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

Türkiye holds elections every five years. In this year's election, more than 65 million Turkish citizens were eligible to vote. YSK announced a record voter turnout of 88.9%.

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

This year's race presents an unprecedented challenge for President Erdogan as he faces a series of major economic difficulties. Over the past two years, Turkey has experienced a cost-of-living crisis as its currency depreciated and consumer prices soared, severely impacting the working class, Erdogan's main support base.

Kilicdaroglu, a 74-year-old former official known for his moderate style, has pledged to revive Turkey's struggling economy and restore its democratic institutions. He represents an electoral coalition of six opposition parties, marking the first time Turkish opposition factions have rallied around a single candidate.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/bau-cu-tho-nhi-ky-bat-phan-thang-bai-4605609.html