Recep Tayyip Erdoğan​​​​​​​ declares victory over opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in Türkiye's presidential run

Sep 25, 2023

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has claimed victory in the country's presidential election, a win that would steer his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade.

Addressing supporters, Mr Erdoğan said voters had given him the responsibility to rule for the next five years.

"The only winner is Türkiye," he said, addressing cheering supporters from atop a bus in Istanbul.

The head of Türkiye's election board announced that Mr Erdoğan had won with 52 per cent of the votes.

His challenger, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, called it "the most unfair election in years" but did not dispute the outcome.

The election had been seen as one of the most consequential yet for Türkiye, with the opposition believing it had a strong chance of unseating Mr Erdoğan after his popularity was hit by a cost-of-living crisis.

Instead, victory has reinforced his image of invincibility, after having already redrawn domestic, economic, security and foreign policy in the NATO member country of 85 million people and positioned Türkiye as a regional power.

The prospect of five more years of his rule is a major blow to opponents who accuse him of undermining democracy as he has amassed ever more power — a charge he denies.

Mr Kılıçdaroğlu's defeat will likely be mourned by Türkiye's NATO allies, which have been alarmed by Mr Erdoğan's ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who congratulated his "dear friend" on his victory.

US president Joe Biden wrote on Twitter: "I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges."

US relations with Türkiye have been impeded by Mr Erdoğan's objection to Sweden joining NATO, as well as Ankara's close relationship with Moscow and differences over Syria.

Mr Erdoğan's victory extends his tenure as the longest-serving leader since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk established modern Türkiye from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire a century ago — a politically potent anniversary to be marked in October with Mr Erdoğan in charge.

Inside a Turkish orphanage, staff coming to terms with a devastating earthquake have "never seen children so hungry for love".

Mr Erdoğan, head of the Islamist-rooted AK Party, appealed to voters with nationalist and conservative rhetoric during a divisive campaign that deflected attention from deep economic troubles.

In his victory speech, he attacked the opposition again, calling them pro-LGBT.

Mr Kılıçdaroğlu, who had promised to set the country on a more democratic and collaborative path, said the vote showed people's will to change an authoritarian government.

"All the means of the state were laid at the feet of one man," he said.

Erdoğan supporters who were gathered outside his Istanbul residence chanted Allahu Akbar, or God is Greatest.

"I expect everything to become better," said Nisa, 28, a woman wearing a headband with Mr Erdoğan's name.

Another Erdoğan supporter said Türkiye would get stronger with him in office for five more years.

"There are issues, problems in every country around the world, in European countries as well… With strong leadership we will overcome Türkiye's problems as well," said Mert, 39, who had come to celebrate with his son.

Bugra Oztug, 24, who voted for Mr Kılıçdaroğlu, said she was not surprised at the result, blaming the opposition for failing to change.

"I feel sad and disappointed but I am not hopeless," Mr Oztug said.

"I still think there are people who can see the realities and truth."

Mr Erdoğan's performance has wrong-footed opponents who also thought voters would punish him over the state's initially slow response to devastating earthquakes in February, in which more than 50,000 people died.

But in the first round of voting on May 14, which included parliamentary elections, his AK Party emerged top in 10 of the 11 provinces hit by the earthquakes, helping it secure a parliamentary majority along with its allies.

The streets of Istanbul were heaving with Mr Erdoğan's supporters, who came in their thousands to chant, dance and sing patriotic songs.

The mood was ecstatic – groups of young girls danced in a circle in the middle of the road as men hung excitedly out the windows of passing cars.

Children swayed to the thumping music while brandishing flares that lit up the night.

Parents pushed prams through the crowd, while children slept undisturbed, draped in flags bearing the logo of Mr Erdogan's party.

"Today history has been rewritten," said one man wearing a bandana printed with the Turkish flag who had arrived with his two young daughters.

A young woman in the crowd had come with her friend to vote for the first time in her life.

"Erdoğan is the best choice for our future," she said.

Meanwhile, highways in the city's centre choked with traffic.

A group of teenagers clinging to the front of an enormous excavator cheered at nearby cars as they sped past.

Reuters/ABC