Türkiye: victory without surprise for Erdogan, re-elected president

This time, there was not really any suspense. Two weeks ago, Recep Tayyip Erdogan had to wait until 1 a.m. to appear in front of his supporters. Sunday, at the end of the second round of the presidential election, he was able to celebrate his victory at 8 p.m., before nightfall, pushing the song, perched on the roof of a bus. A crowd of supporters waved Turkish flags and gathered in the grounds of his palace, on the heights of Ankara. “Bye bye Mr. Kemal,” he said.

The gap in favor of the incumbent president after the first round of this election proved impossible to close for his opponent, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu. The results of May 14 have not changed much this Sunday and Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintains a lead of around 2.5 million votes. He comes first in more than 50 provinces out of 82. He gets 52%, compared to almost 48% for his opponent.

The votes that had gone in favor of Sinan Ogan, the ultranationalist candidate in the first round, were dispersed between the two contenders, without playing a decisive role. The main opponent of Erdogan had however hardened his speech in the intervening rounds against Syrian migrants, promising to send them back to their country within two months of his election. But in these two weeks of the second round campaign, the opposition will have struggled to ignore its divisions and the inconsistency of its project. Opposite, Erdogan reassured and was sure of himself.

This election confirms the total control of the electoral process by Erdogan, despite an unfavorable context. Neither the deep economic crisis experienced by Turkish households, nor the effects of the seismic disaster in February, prevented the “reis” from winning another victory, while preserving the appearance of a democratic election.

“We have opened the doors of the Turkish Century… No one can look down on our nation,” Erdogan said. He now has a free hand to govern until 2028. And to win new elections. “Tomorrow is 2024. Are you ready to win the local elections in Istanbul?” “Launched the president to his troops. They are ready.

In the evening, Emmanuel Macron congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election, saying that “France and Turkey have immense challenges to overcome together”. Among these “challenges”, the French president quotes, on Twitter, the “return of peace in Europe, the future of our Euro-Atlantic Alliance, the Mediterranean Sea”. “With President Erdogan, whom I congratulate, we will continue to move forward,” added the head of state.

France and Turkey have huge challenges to face together. Return of peace to Europe, future of our Euro-Atlantic Alliance, Mediterranean Sea. With President Erdogan, whom I congratulate on his re-election, we will continue to move forward.

Vladimir Putin, who recently worked closely with his Turkish counterpart, said Erdogan’s victory was “the logical result of (his) dedicated work” leading the country and “clear proof” of popular support. to his policy. The Russian President referred in particular to the “efforts” deployed, according to him, by Mr. Erdogan “to strengthen the sovereignty of the State and to pursue an independent foreign policy”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also sent his congratulations to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, hoping for a “strengthening” of the ties between their two countries and their “cooperation for security and stability” in Europe. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also said he hoped Erdogan’s re-election would give “new impetus” to relations between the two countries to “advance their common agenda”.

“I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO allies on bilateral issues and global challenges,” Joe Biden tweeted. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his “look forward to continuing the close collaboration” between the UK and Turkey. “Congratulations to @RTErdogan,” Rishi Sunak tweeted: “I look forward to continuing the close collaboration between our countries, whether it’s expanding trade or addressing security threats as leaders. ‘allies within NATO’.

Congratulations to @RTErdogan. I look forward to continuing the strong collaboration between our countries, from growing trade to tackling security threats as NATO allies.

Turkish opponent Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, defeated at the end of this second round, expressed his “sadness” for the future of Turkey. “I am deeply saddened by the difficulties facing the country,” he said from his party’s headquarters in Ankara.