Still, she did not flip to Mr. Kilicdaroglu, voting instead for a third candidate, Sinan Ogan, who received about 5 percent of the vote. He faced mass protests against his governing style in 2013, and in 2016, two years after he became president, he survived a coup attempt. Turkey, a NATO ally on the border between Europe and Asia, has experienced a decade of democratic backsliding as Erdogan has methodically consolidated all branches of government under his authority. I, as president, swear upon my honour and integrity before the great Turkish nation and history to safeguard the existence and independence of the state, Erdogan said in a ceremony at the parliament in Ankara, broadcast live on television. , This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline "Five more years", Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania see a threat from Russia that will not go away, France takes a hard look at itself after a week of violence, Published since September 1843 to take part in a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress.. I would want to vote, she said in an interview before the election. Erdogan faced criticism from families frustrated by a slow response from rescue teams after more than 52,000 people were killed when a powerful earthquake struck parts of Turkey and Syria on 6 February. The main opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, wore a martenitsa, or wish ribbon, on his wrist as he cast his ballot at a polling station in Ankara on Sunday. The election comes three months after swathes of the country crumbled to rubble in the most devastating earthquake since 1999. Who is Erdogan, how has Turkey changed under his rule and what do his critics and supporters say about him? hide caption. Speaking at his own partys headquarters, Mr. Kilicdaroglu said the vote would express the nations will. He said, We are here until each and every vote is counted., The competing claims came early Monday after a nail-biter evening during which each camp accused the other of announcing misleading information. Almost 180 people died. Furthermore, alleged corruption and negligence that led to building code and safety violations may have contributed to higher death tolls from the earthquakes, according to a preliminary report from scientists at Middle East Technical University in Ankara. Only a small proportion of results is in. Deniz said before voting. They would like to know if this person will be opposition leader KILICDAROGLU or the very successful Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem IMAMOGLU (who walked all over the AK Party candidate in local elections) or else the important partner of the opposition, Meral Aksener, the leader of the GOOD PARTY, to challenge ERDOGAN in the presidential election to come in 2023 latest and most likely in 2022. Mr Erdogans performance in the second round was a mere 0.4% worse than his performance in 2018, and a 0.4% improvement on 2014. Residents who lost their homes in the earthquakes watched the election results in tents. This is certainly one of the most important issues on the agenda, but the question of whether Turkey will return to the parliamentary regime and which political alliance/coalition would/could be in power after it does is another important topic often discussed. Erdogan responded to the attempted overthrow of his government with mass arrests and large purges across the military, government and civil service. The election board has released the first official preliminary results: Erdogan has 49.49 percent and opposition leader Kilicdaroglu has 44.79 percent. Makeshift tent cities were aglow on Sunday night as residents watched television coverage of the elections. He and his family members are staying in a tent after their house was destroyed. Gross domestic product per capita more than tripled during his first decade in office, from $3,600 in 2002 to $11,700 in 2012. The election was also driven by issues that have long polarized Turkish society, like the proper place for religion in a state committed to strict secularism. He has built everything: roads, bridges and drones. Reporting was contributed by Elif Ince from Istanbul, Safak Timur from Ankara and Nimet Kirac from Antakya. Pro-opposition civil society groups raised money to buy plane and bus tickets for survivors to travel back to the quake zone to vote. I refrain from precise answers because financial astrology is not my field of expertise, he added. Erdogan was also criticised for pulling out of an international accord designed to protect women from domestic violence in 2021. Like many survivors of the devastating February earthquakes, his biggest struggles are more basic: getting through the day, finding enough food and water, maintaining his sanity. We foresee that we will win this race in the first round, Mansur Yavas, the opposition mayor of Ankara, told a news conference. Derya Akca, 29, cited her desire to cover her hair as a primary reason she supported Mr. Erdogans Justice and Development Party. He has promised to build 319,000 homes within the year. But his budget could be stretched now the government also faces the cost of a massive rebuild after the earthquakes. The elimination of Mr. Ogan could give an edge to Mr. Erdogan in the runoff, as Mr. Ogans right-wing nationalist followers are more likely to prefer him. Although he predicted a defeat for Mr. Erdogan, Mr. Guner has warned the political opposition against repeating the mistakes of Turkeys short-lived coalition governments of the 1990s, an era characterized by political bickering and economic troubles, since his readings suggest a similar pattern for the country over the next two years. But many of the displaced may not manage to vote on Sunday, and even some who did change their addresses face further obstacles. All rights reserved. Voter turnout is usually high. Divisions are increasingly entrenched: between bigger cities, where support for Mr Kilicdaroglu is higher, and the countryside, which votes mostly for Mr Erdogan; between secular and religious; and between the countrys western coast and the Anatolian interior (see map). All along, he and his party remained formidable at the ballot box, and used their electoral mandate to promote a religiously conservative outlook. Erdogan has long held close ties with Vladimir Putin and continues to call Russia's president his "dear friend". Before this point, it had been a mostly ceremonial post; Erdogan sought to change that. That's because for the first time in 20 years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces a united opposition threatening his grip on power. via Associated Press ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection Sunday, extending his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade as the country reels from high inflation and the aftermath of an earthquake that leveled entire cities. Furthermore, the current president does not seem to have good chances to be elected again in the next election either judging on same poll results again.. Adding to the importance of these elections for many Turks is that 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the countrys founding as a republic after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. He has already ruled out releasing Selahattin Demirtas, the former leader of the pro-Kurdish HDP party, who has languished in prison since 2016 on trumped-up terror charges. He used the backing Mr Kilicdaroglu received from the countrys main Kurdish party to accuse his opponent of teaming up with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an armed separatist group. The president of Turkey, officially the president of the Republic of Trkiye (Turkish: Trkiye Cumhuriyeti Cumhurbakan), is the head of state and head of government of Turkey. Analysts have warned if current policies continue, the economy is heading for greater turmoil given depleted foreign reserves, an expanding state-backed protected deposits scheme, and unchecked inflation expectations. But Kilicdaroglu tweeted: We are leading.. More than 300 people died in the clashes between the military and Erdogan supporters during the coup attempt. Mr. Erdogan expanded Islamic education and loosened regulations aimed at ensuring a secular state, including lifting a ban on head scarves for women in government jobs. At the same time, it alienated more progressive parts of society and those secularists who want to keep religion out of politics. Erdogan has been dragging his feet on approving the application, accusing Stockholm of sheltering terrorists of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. He talked about a liberal and inclusive constitution and thats important because he never talked in this way [before] He also talked about the role of Turkey in the region as a peacemaker. I want a country where L.G.B.T. Nursel Karci, a mother of four living in the same camp, said she too would vote for Erdogan. Internationally, Mr. Erdogan was lauded as an Islamist and pro-business democrat who could serve as a bridge between the West and the Muslim world. He claimed that in some instances, ballots were counted 11 times. Erdogan is proud to say that he is in charge, not just of the economy but of everything, and when you say you are responsible for everything, then people are going to hold you accountable for everything, she said. comments the American president made as a candidate in 2019. He tried to show the key role of Turkey in world politics.. Such a thing is not possible under our government, he told supporters during a victory speech on May 28th. The U.S. will find an interlocutor with whom it will be easier to agree on the terms of the relationship, he said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described gay rights activists as threats, and Mx. The meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday is designed to show trans-Atlantic unity and solidarity in support for Ukraine as it battles Russias invasion. Sure, things are expensive, but salaries are almost as high. Vladimir Putin is planning a rare overseas trip to Turkey next month, the country's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has revealed. We believe in change.. Melek Sokun, a 55-year-old retail trader who voted in Adana Province, in southern Turkey. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Sunday night. NATO officials, who are hoping the issue will be resolved at an annual summit next week in Vilnius, Lithuania, worry that a failure to move ahead with the expansion of the alliance would be a symbolic victory for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Why should I vote for them?. Astrology serves as a balm in a country where a powerful government has eroded many peoples sense of control, according to Feyza Akinerdem, a lecturer in sociology at Bogazici University in Istanbul. His rise to power in the early 2000s also led to the rise of political Islam in the country. On Monday, Erdogan doubled down on the narrative, insisting that the PKK has thrown its support to Kilicdaroglu whether the video is faked or not., Most analysts failed to gauge the impact of Erdogans campaign against Kilicdaroglu, Guvenc said. Seeing his hometown in ruins, he said, left him depressed, but he was cheered to meet friends he hadnt seen since before the disaster. A chance to repair Turkeys democracy and its economy has been lost. Turkish voters were choosing a new president on Sunday in an election that has proved to be the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threw his support behind Ukraines NATO bid Friday, following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Elected the 12th Recep Tayyip Erdogan is re-elected as Turkeys president, Spains prime minister gambles on a snap general election, Polands government may seek to bar opponents from politics, Ukraines Danube ports have become a lifeline, California: Do Not Sell My Personal Information, The Baltic states fear that NATO is being complacent. He studied at Islamic schools usually intended for future clerics but went into politics and won a four-year term as Istanbuls mayor in 1994. Theres inflation, but at least were not hungry like we were then. The streets are paved. Erdogans campaign has focused on rebuilding areas that were devastated by the earthquake, which leveled cities and left more 50,000 dead in Turkey. If our nation decides to make such a different decision, he said, we will do exactly whats required by democracy.. Many U.S. officials believe that Mr. Erdogan was posturing ahead of the election to demonstrate his toughness on the Kurdish issue, but they would still much prefer to have Sweden admitted to NATO, which would be a blow to Mr. Putin. But our minds were made up before the earthquake.. Lets also note that among them is the formula to amend the electoral code. Erdogan "is the guarantee for a more stable future, Nergis said. Can Swedens two-track economy avoid a recession. Turkeys third-placed presidential election candidate, Sinan Ogan, on Monday backed frontrunner Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a boost ahead of the scheduled runoff vote. Turkeys opposition had the best shot in a generation of unseating Mr Erdogan. Erdogans nationalist-Islamist alliance also retained its hold on parliament in legislative elections two weeks ago, further increasing his chances for reelection as many voters are likely to want to avoid a split government. The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, said on Friday that Russia would be closely following the results of the meeting. But challenges arose. But the backdrop to the celebrations in Sekeroba was different from most. He responded by further centralizing power and sidelining critics purging tens of thousands from the judiciary and state bureaucracy and replacing many of them with loyalists, restricting civil liberties and increasing his influence over the news media. On Sunday, one voter, Fatma Cay, said she had supported Mr. Erdogan in the past but did not do so this time, in part because she was angry at how expensive foodstuffs like onions had become. The February earthquakes exposed shoddy building methods and a lack of preparedness. Erdogan continues to hold a significant lead, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency, which says more than 70 percent of ballot boxes have been opened. community. Amid the difficulties facing survivors, Mehmet Hadimi Yakupoglu, an opposition party representative to the election council, said he expects a drop in turnout in the quake zone. A television showed the latest vote tallies in what Turkish broadcasters were calling a consequential election that could determine Turkeys future. It has turned into a referendum.. With no car and not enough money to travel to her assigned polling place, Ms. Guner said she could not cast her ballot. In a tent in Turkeys quake zone, neither candidate inspires confidence. Experts say Sunday's election will determine whether Turkey can return to democratic rule or will continue its path toward an autocracy. Before the toughest election of his career two weeks ago, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tapped the Treasury for populist spending programs and raised the minimum wage three times in the last year and a half. WebIncumbent president Recep Tayyip Erdoan of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) ran for re-election as the joint candidate of the People's Alliance, which includes the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and two other smaller parties. Another prominent astrologer, Meral Guven, known for accurately forecasting the national soccer championship, predicted an election win for Mr. Erdogan, saying he would rule Turkey until the day he dies and even after that.. Of the powers Turkeys president retains, none has been more advantageous to his own political interests and more harmful to the health of his countrys economy than his control over the central bank. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took 49.5 percent of Sundays vote, with his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, getting 44.89 percent, Turkeys Supreme Election Council said on Monday. In December 2002 at the White House, President George W. Bush greeted an up-and-coming politician from Turkey whose newly formed party had just won a surprising majority in parliament. Copyright The Economist Newspaper Limited 2023. Who will win the elections? A group of men fired shotgun rounds in the air. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spent two decades in power, serving as Turkeys prime minister from 2003 to 2014, when he was elected president. But he said he also wasnt confident in the opposition, led by Kemal Kilicdaroglu. When Erdogans total fell below 50 percent a few minutes ago, the room got louder for a moment. Critics say Erdogan has turned Turkey into an autocracy - in other words, a one-man show - muzzled dissent and eroded people's rights. He lost an uncle, aunt and other family members in the earthquake. Later in the afternoon, Mr. Zelensky traveled to Prague, where he met with President Petr Pavel and said that the Czech Republic, by supporting Ukraines hopes of joining NATO and the European Union, was helping bring the victory closer., AnushkaPatilis a reporter covering live news. On Thursday, he was in Bulgaria to discuss military and energy cooperation. Turkey, a NATO ally on Videos show Turkey's Erdogan boasted letting builders avoid earthquake codes, preliminary report from scientists at Middle East Technical University, Gross domestic product per capita more than tripled, Turkey's president has built vast power over 20 years. You are a strategic ally and friend of the United States.. Erdoan, winning 49 % of the votes, arose triumphant at the end of the parliamentary elections held on June 12, 2011 and established the 61st government. But he cautioned that a change in leadership would not suddenly resolve all the bilateral tensions. People lined up Sunday to vote outside containers acting as improvised polling stations during the presidential and parliamentary elections in the southern Turkish city of Antakya, destroyed by this years devastating earthquake. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to meet Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the expiration date of the Black Sea grain deal approaches. but the country did officially join last month. To some, those decisions raised questions about the election boards independence and willingness to rule against Mr. Erdogans preferred outcome. In an interview with CNN broadcast on Wednesday evening, Mr. Zelensky said he wanted Mr. Biden to invite Ukraine into NATO now, saying that the American president was the decision maker about whether Ukraine would be in the alliance. Inside Erdogans party headquarters in Istanbul, the mood is tense. The change to this new presidential system means that for the first time, Erdogan has to win 50% of the vote. Mustafa Kemal Atatrk (1881. The opposition has vowed to return the country to a parliamentary system. On the other hand, AKSENER also stated that she would aim to be the next PM of Turkey provided the political system of Turkey is switched back to parliamentary system. Welcome to the home of one of your countrys best friends and allies, Mr. Bush told the politician, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Its not possible to say that the odds are favoring him, but nevertheless, technically, he stands a chance, said professor Serhat Guvenc of Istanbuls Kadir Has University. He might even take a page out of former President Donald Trump's playbook and call on his supporters to stop any transfer of power. She said the government didnt take care of the earthquake survivors and complained that the deteriorating economy is another hurdle to her starting a new life now. A number of them said they would like to come back to their homes, but given the lack of progress, they cannot. Rescue teams never showed up, though food and supplies began arriving within days. He could remain in power until 2028 if reelected. In the crackdown following the coup about 150,000 civil servants were sacked and more than 50,000 people were detained, including journalists, academics, police officers, soldiers and lawyers. Should none of the candidates win more than 50% of the vote, then there will be a runoff election on May 28 between the top two candidates. This is simply because the government wants to find out about the answer to said question earliest possible so that they have a good chance to politically wear out concerned candidate (of opposition) in the eyes of the electorate until elections to come. Mr. Erdogan, 69, grew up poor in a tough neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkeys largest city, where his father was a ferry captain. He has also repeatedly called on 8 million people who stayed away from the polls in the first round to cast votes in the make-or-break runoff. While many quake survivors struggled to vote, it is unclear whether decreased turnout in their areas would affect results. "Share this post on social media, spread the news", Economy, Business, Politics and Travel in Turkey, Turkeys opposition alliance designs road map for elections and parliamentary system, Health Minister says it is a must to slow down lives to reduce the contact to a third, Statement from Kldarolu after political ban decision on Imamolu: We will not let them get away with this, Jet2 will take 3.3 million British tourists to Spain. Kadife Dik, a 66-year-old woman living on her husbands pension, also returned to Antakya with her family to vote and found that all of their belongings were stolen from their destroyed home. The next year, Mr. Erdogans political ban ended and he became prime minister. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys paramount politician for 20 years, defeated the opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, according to the countrys electoral authority. Turkey has not participated in the economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and Europe over the war. But I dont know who would take me to Ankara.. Almost every Turkish citizen over the age of 18 can vote, and there is no requirement to register. At 69, Erdogan is already Turkey's longest-serving leader, having ruled over the country as prime minister since 2003 and as president since 2014. Erdogan's rolling back of the ban on women wearing headscarves was seen as one example of him reversing the secularity enshrined in the founding of the Turkish Republic a century ago. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won re-election on Sunday, the head of Turkey's Supreme Election Council Zelensky will discuss the grain deal with Turkeys president, with a NATO bid in mind, too. (AP Photo/Metin Yoksu), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Born in February 1954, Erdogan grew up on Turkey's Black Sea coast until he was 13, when his family moved to Istanbul. Unless Turkeys leader reverses course, the currency will continue to plunge. The referendum passed by a slim margin, allowing Mr. Erdogan, the president at the time, to greatly expand his powers. I just dont know by how much, he said. Neither Mr Erdogan, 69, nor his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu reached the required 50% of the vote in the first round on 14 May. Under Erdogan, Turkey has proven to be an indispensable and sometimes troublesome NATO ally. A grain deal with Russia is once again facing an uncertain future. The banks net foreign reserves are now negative for the first time since 2002. Turkeys astrologers find answers in the stars. People waiting to cast their ballots Sunday in Istanbul. Many Turks complained of a lack of equipment, expertise and support to help those who are trapped. At 69, Erdogan is already Turkey's longest-serving leader, having ruled over the country as prime minister since 2003 and as president since 2014. Mr. Erdogan was angered after the U.S. ambassador to Ankara, Jeff Flake, met with Mr. Kilicdaroglu last month. The unemployed father of two had the television tuned to a privately owned network that is often critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Deniz Deniz, 44, a co-owner of Ziba bar in Istanbuls popular Beyoglu neighborhood. Many of those who fled the destruction of the quake zone faced difficulties voting. Turkeys strongman won by depicting the opposition as a threat to Turkish culture and national security. WASHINGTON On the eve of Turkeys elections, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that President Biden wanted him to lose, urging his supporters on Saturday to give a response to the American president. That is a substantial share of the nearly nine million eligible voters in the 11 quake-affected provinces of southern Turkey. When a supporter asked him last month what the wish was, he replied, This is a secret everybody knows.. Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Who is Turkey's president? Although the final results are not in yet, we are leading by far, Erdogan says. He gave the example of polling places in shipping containers next to schools damaged in the quake. 20.04.2023 Message on Eid al-Fitr. Mr. Peskov added that Russia considered Turkey an important partner and greatly values its relationship with Mr. Erdogan. A member of the committee that organized the first Pride march in Istanbul in 2003, they saw the annual event grow from a few dozen people to many thousands a decade later. What time do the polls close in Turkey, and when are results expected. The president directs the executive branch of the national government and is the commander-in-chief of the Turkish military. Mr. Erdogan has dismissed speculation that he would refuse to leave power if he loses, telling Turkish broadcasters before the first-round election on May 14 that he had come to power through democracy and would respect the process. With the unofficial count nearly completed, Mr. Erdogan received 49.4 percent of the vote to Mr. Kilicdaroglus 44.8 percent, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seen here in September, is facing a united opposition in Sunday's election that threatens his grip on power. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is wrapping up an intense week of diplomacy with a visit to Istanbul on Friday to meet with Turkeys president about the This is an existential struggle. They had until April 2 to do it in person in election board offices. His family drove their own car to Antakya to vote, but did not manage to get the reimbursement for gas that Turkeys disaster management agency had promised, Mr. Dayanir said. In 2014, Erdogan became Turkey's first directly elected president. Officials from Turkeys opposition Republican Peoples Party follow election results in a tent. However, it was welcomed by Muslims who had felt excluded by the old rules. Once a new political force promising to clean up corruption, expand the economy and strengthen ties with the West, he is now a nearly all-powerful leader, blamed for Turkeys sinking currency and criticized for undermining democracy. This change came less than a year after a failed military coup in July 2016. People have been increasingly asking me about where they should invest their savings, whether the exchange rate will go even further, Mr. Guner said in an interview. I miss people asking me about their love lives, he said. If we didnt pull them out with our own hands, we would have lost my cousins under the rubble also, he said, lamenting the governments rescue efforts as insufficient. Kemal Kilicdaroglu represented several opposition parties to mount a challenge to Mr. Erdogan. As for the question if Turkey will go back to parliamentary system, the opposition group, Nation Alliance headed by CHP (with Good Party partnering) is certainly determined to establish the parliamentary system in the country, again. In the last presidential and parliamentary elections, in 2018, around 85 percent of voters cast ballots. A poster depicting Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the presidential candidate of Turkeys main opposition alliance. He has forgotten where he comes from, said Ms. Cay, 70. Sundays vote was also held to determine the makeup of Turkeys 600-member Parliament, although the results for those seats were not expected until Monday. Reporters Without Borders lists Turkey at 149 out of 180 countries on its press freedom index, noting that 90% of its national media is now under government control. Judging by great majority of the impartial polls conducted in recent months, the current government seems to have lost substantial support (hence votes) due to its not very successful performance (as expressed by many experts) in foreign and domestic politics, and economic matters, in particular. It did not say what percentage of the vote had been counted. He said he came back to Antakya, the hardest hit city in the earthquake zone, with eight of his family members. The move was seen as a boost for Erdogan even though Ogans supporters are not a monolithic bloc and not all of his votes are expected to go to Erdogan. Turkeys election on Sunday is in many ways a referendum on the dramatic changes that Mr. Erdogan has brought in 11 years as prime minister and nine as president. Mr. Guner, whose Twitter account has more than 700,000 followers, points to 2018, when Turkeys currency began to lose value, as the start of a new surge of interest in astrology as people sought financial counsel. President Biden and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey meeting during the NATO Summit in Madrid, in June 2022. Mr. Dayanir, a 25-year-old tobacco representative, said his family was voting for the opposition candidate because they want change. Amid concerns that errors in the database of addresses could also hinder some people from casting ballots, the election council pledged that voting would take place in the quake zone without difficulty.