Erdogan wins Turkish presidential election

Incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan scored 52.16% after processing 99.85% of the ballots. His rival Kemal Kılıçdaroglu has 47.84%. This was announced on the evening of Sunday, May 28, by the head of the Central Election Commission, Ahmet Yener.

According to the opposition news agency Anka, after counting 97 percent of the ballots, Erdogan scored 52 percent and Kılıçdaroğlu 48 percent.

"We have completed the second round of the presidential elections with the goodwill of our people. I would like to express my nation's gratitude for giving us a holiday of democracy," Erdogan said, speaking to his supporters in Istanbul. "I would like to thank all the representatives of our nations that once again entrusted us with the responsibility of running the country for the next five years, for the choices they have made."

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also indirectly admitted his defeat, expressing concern that the country will face very big problems. In his first speech after the election, he said that he would continue the fight for democracy.

In the first round, 69-year-old Erdogan did not have enough to win, then he enlisted the support of 49.5% of those who voted, 74-year-old Kilichdaroglu had 44.9% of the vote. Sinan Ogan, a candidate of ultranationalist views, came third with 5%. Before the second round of elections, Ogan spoke out in support of Erdogan.

Kılıçdaroğlu called on voters to end Erdoğan's 20-year authoritarian rule. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been in the leadership of Turkey since 2003. Until 2014, he served as prime minister, and now he is elected president of the country for the third time in a row.