President Erdogan seeks to gain advantage in second round

Türkiye's two presidential candidates are aiming to attract some 8 million voters who did not cast ballots in the first round.

Tổng thống Thổ Nhĩ Kỳ Recep Tayyip Erdogan cùng phu nhân trong đêm bầu cử ngày 14/5. (Nguồn: Getty Images)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife on election night on May 14. (Source: Getty Images)

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to gain an advantage in the second round of presidential elections, taking place on May 28.

Accordingly, the leader called on the people of this country to vote in support, in the context of opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu urging electors to pull the country out of difficulties.

The opposition has seen this month’s presidential and parliamentary elections as its best chance to oust Mr. Erdogan, as well as to undo the sweeping changes he has made to Turkey, as his popularity has been hit by a cost-of-living crisis.

The two candidates are aiming to attract some 8 million voters who did not cast ballots in the first round.

The May 14 round of voting showed Mr. Erdogan leading Mr. Kilicdaroglu of the opposition, while Mr. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its allies won a parliamentary majority in the first vote.

Speaking to supporters in Istanbul's Beykoz district during his final campaign rally, incumbent President Erdogan strongly urged voters to go to the polls.

"We will encourage those who cannot go (to vote in the first round). Can we finish the job that was left unfinished on May 14, with an overwhelming majority, by widening the gap tomorrow?" he stressed.

Polling stations opened at 8am on May 28 (local time, 5am GMT) and closed at 5pm (2pm GMT) for more than 60 million voters.

Unofficial results are expected by the end of May 28.

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