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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.
People walk past a poster for Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, Turkey, June 25, 2018. The poster reads: "Our people won, Turkey won, Thank you istanbul". REUTERS/Osman Orsal - RC19D0C486D0

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.”

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