Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed victory on Sunday night in pivotal presidential and parliamentary elections, but opposition parties disputed the result.
In a speech from his presidential office in Istanbul, Mr Erdogan told supporters: “The nation has entrusted to me the responsibility of the presidency and the executive duty.” He added: “I hope nobody will try to cast a shadow on the results and harm democracy in order to hide their own failure.”
Mr Erdogan also declared victory in parliamentary elections for the People’s Alliance, an electoral pact between his ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) and the small ultranationalist Nationalist Movement party (MHP), claiming that they had a majority in the 600-seat parliament.
Preliminary results published by the state-run Anadolu news agency gave the Turkish president 52.5 per cent of the vote in the presidential contest with 97.6 per cent of ballot boxes opened.
In the parliamentary contest, the AKP was on course to win 42.4 per cent per cent of the vote with 97.4 per cent of ballot boxes opened, according to the preliminary figures. Combined with the votes of the party’s ultranationalist allies, the government bloc’s vote reached 53.6 per cent of the total.
However, Muharrem Ince, Mr Erdogan’s main challenger with 30.8 per cent, disputed the results, accusing the Anadolu agency of “manipulation”. He said that figures published by the Supreme Election Board (YSK) showed that many ballot boxes had yet to be opened and counted. He warned election monitors: “Don’t leave the ballot boxes.”
If Mr Erdogan exceeds 50 per cent of the vote when official figures are published, he will avoid a second-round run-off.
If his victory is confirmed, Turkey’s populist and divisive leader will not only secure five more years in office, but will also take the helm of a powerful executive system of government that abolishes the role of prime minister and concentrates unprecedented powers in the presidency.
