What’s next for Turkey following Erdogan’s election win?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has officially won re-election, though his ruling party missed a parliamentary majority by a hair.
Turkey’s main opposition presidential contender conceded defeat today, effectively forestalling further debate about the legitimacy of Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections that were won by incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP). Thus, a new era formalizing the sweeping powers already exercised by Erdogan under two years of emergency rule is being ushered in unchallenged.
Muharrem Ince, the candidate for the main secular opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said at a news conference in Ankara, “I accept the election results.” Alluding to allegations of fraud, Ince said, “Did they steal votes? Yes, they will have. Did they steal millions of votes? No.”
Ince’s statement caps a night of drama fanned by his protracted silence following the announcement of the results, which gave Erdogan 52.6% of the vote and Ince 30.7%.
Reports of ballot stuffing, voter intimidation and other forms of manipulation could not account for the 10 million gap between them, Ince said.
