Turkish election ends in inconclusive

No candidate achieved the 50% threshold needed to win Turkey's presidential election, forcing a second round of general elections.

Türkiye's Supreme Election Council (YSK) Chairman Ahmet Yener said today that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won 49.52% of the vote in the general election. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Erdogan's main rival, received 44.88% of the vote, while nationalist candidate Sinan Ogan came in third with 5.2%.

Mr Yener said there were about 35,000 votes left to be counted, but that would not affect the final result. With no candidate getting the 50% threshold needed to win, Türkiye will have to hold a second round of elections on 28 May.

President Erdogan speaks to supporters in the Turkish capital Ankara on May 15. Photo: AFP — President Erdogan speaks to supporters in the Turkish capital Ankara on May 15. Photo: *AFP*

President Erdogan won even in areas hardest hit by the February earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people, where people expressed anger at the government's slow response to the disaster. His right-wing party also maintained control of parliament through a coalition with the nationalists.

"Don't despair. We will stand up and continue together in the election," Mr Kilicdaroglu told supporters.

Türkiye holds elections every five years. More than 65 million Turkish citizens were eligible to vote in this year's election. YSK reported a record turnout of 88.9%.

President Erdogan (left) and CHP candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Photo: CNN — President Erdogan (left) and CHP candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Photo: *CNN*

This year's race poses an unprecedented challenge for President Erdogan, who is facing a series of major economic difficulties. Over the past two years, Turkey has suffered a cost-of-living crisis as the currency has lost value and consumer prices have soared, severely affecting the working class, Mr. Erdogan's main support base.

Kilicdaroglu, a 74-year-old moderate former official, has pledged to revive Türkiye's faltering economy and restore its democratic institutions. He represents an electoral alliance of six opposition parties, the first time Turkey's opposition has coalesced around a single candidate.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )

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