Erdogan failed to win the first round of presidential elections

Turkey’s presidential election may be extended for a second round, as none of the candidates won the required 50% of the vote. By counting Evrensel agency, after processing 99.83% of the ballots, the incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan scored 49.25%.

His main opponent, Republican People’s Party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, received 45.05%, while the Nationalist Alliance candidate Sinan Ogan received 5.28%. The leader of the Fatherland Party Muharrem Ince was also supposed to participate in the elections, but on May 11 he decided to withdraw his candidacy without specifying the reasons. However, his name remained on the ballots, he won 0.42% of the vote.

According to the data cited by the state television channel TRT Haber, after counting 99.9% of the ballots, Erdogan gains 49.34%, and Kılıçdaroglu – 45%, writes “RIA News”. If none of the candidates wins 50% of the vote, the second round of presidential elections will be scheduled in the country, which is expected to take place on May 28.

In total, 53.9 million people took part in the elections. Turnout was 88.84%. Under current Turkish law, a candidate must receive 50% of the vote plus one vote to win the election.

At the same time, Erdogan, during a speech to supporters expressed opinion that he will win in the first round of elections, Evrensel reports. “We don’t know yet if the presidential election ended in the first round due to the limitation of our electoral system to 50% + 1 vote. If the decision of our country shows that the presidential elections are over, then there is no problem. If our people have made a choice in favor of the second round of elections, this is also the case. We believe we will finish this tour with over 50% of the votes,” he said.

At the same time, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed confidence that the presidential elections in Turkey would extended for the second round, which will take place on May 28. “We will do our best to establish fairness and justice together with our people over the next 15 days. Let our people be sure that we will definitely win,” he said at a meeting with supporters.

The Erdogan-led Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) is also leading in parliamentary elections, with 35.42% of the vote and 266 seats in parliament after processing 98.62% of the ballots, according to preliminary data. The Republican People’s Party, led by Kılıçdaroglu, won 25.4% and 168 seats. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) receives 10.05% of the vote and can take 51 seats in parliament. The left-wing Green Party (Yesil Sol Parti) can take 62 seats in parliament, gaining 8.79%. In the parliamentary elections, the turnout is 87.68%, transmits Anadolu.

The first round of presidential and parliamentary elections took place on May 14, voting ended at 17:00 local time (coincides with Moscow time). The final results will be published on May 19 in the official newspaper.