Turkey’s Erdogan prevails in election test of his 20-year rule

ANKARA, May 28 (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdoğan he extended his two decades in power in Sunday’s election, winning a mandate to pursue increasingly authoritarian policies that have polarized Turkey and strengthened its position as a regional military power.

His rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, called it “the most unfair election in years” but did not question the result.

Official results showed Kilicdaroglu winning 47.9% of the vote to Erdogan’s 52.1%, pointing to a deeply divided nation.

The election had been seen as one of the most important for Turkey so far, with the opposition believing it had a strong chance of ousting Erdogan and reversing his policies after his popularity suffered from a cost-of-living crisis.

Instead, the victory reinforced his image of invincibility, after he had already reshaped domestic, economic, security and foreign policy in the NATO member country of 85 million people.

The prospect of five more years of his rule was a major blow to opponents who accused him of undermining democracy while amassing more and more power, a charge he denies.

In a victory speech in Ankara, Erdogan vowed to put all disputes behind him and unite behind national values ​​and dreams, but then reversed course, lashing out at the opposition and accusing Kilicdaroglu of siding with the terrorists without providing evidence.

He said releasing former pro-Kurdish party leader Selahattin Demirtas, whom he called a “terrorist”, would not be possible under his rule.

Erdogan said that inflation was Türkiye’s most pressing problem.

Kilicdaroglu’s defeat will likely be mourned by Turkey’s NATO allies, which have been alarmed by Erdogan’s ties to the Russian president. Vladimir Putinwho congratulated his “dear friend” on his victory.

american president Joe Biden he wrote on Twitter: “I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges.”

US relations with Turkey have been hampered by Erdogan’s objection to Sweden joining NATO, as well as Ankara’s close relationship with Moscow and differences over Syria.

‘THE ONLY WINNER TODAY IS Türkiye’, SAYS ERDOGAN

Addressing jubilant supporters from the top of a bus in Istanbul, Erdogan, 69, said “the only winner today is Turkey.” “I thank each one of us who once again gave us the responsibility of governing the country for five more years,” he said.

Erdogan’s victory extends his tenure as the longest-serving leader since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk established modern Turkey from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire a century ago, a politically powerful anniversary to be commemorated in October with Erdogan in charge.

Erdogan, head of the Islamist-rooted AK Party, appealed to voters with nationalist and conservative rhetoric during a divisive campaign that diverted attention from deep economic problems.

In his victory speech, he again attacked the opposition, calling it pro-LGBT.

Kilicdaroglu, who has vowed to set the country on a more democratic and collaborative path, said the vote showed the people’s willingness to change an authoritarian government. “All the media in the state were put at the feet of one man,” he said.

‘SAD AND DISAPPOINTED’

Erdogan’s supporters, who gathered outside his Istanbul residence, chanted Allahu Akbar, or God is the greatest.

“I hope everything gets better,” said Nisa, 28, a woman in a headscarf who wears a headband bearing Erdogan’s name.

Another Erdogan supporter said Turkey would be stronger with him in office for five more years.

“There are problems, problems in every country in the world, also in European countries… With strong leadership, we will overcome Turkey’s problems as well,” said the supporter, who gave his name as Mert, 39, as he celebrated with his son.

Bugra Oztug, 24, who voted for Kilicdaroglu, blamed the opposition for failing to bring about change. “I feel sad and disappointed, but I am not hopeless. I still think that there are people who can see reality and the truth,” Oztug said.

Erdogan’s performance has misguided opponents who thought voters would punish him for the state’s initially slow response to devastating earthquakes in February, which killed more than 50,000 people.

But in the first round of voting on May 14, which included parliamentary elections, his AK Party won 10 of the 11 quake-hit provinces, helping him secure a parliamentary majority along with his allies.

FEARS FOR FREEDOMS

French President Emmanuel Macron offered congratulations, saying France and Turkey had “enormous challenges to face together.”

The presidents of Iran, Israel and the Saudi king were among the leaders who congratulated him in the Middle East, where Erdogan has asserted Turkish influence, sometimes with military might. Erdogan, who for years was at odds with numerous governments in the region, has taken a more conciliatory stance in recent years.

Emre Erdogan, a professor of political science at Istanbul’s Bilgi University, attributed Erdogan’s success to his supporters’ belief “in his ability to solve problems, even though he created many of them.”

Erdogan had also maintained the support of conservative voters who have long felt marginalized. “This era will be characterized by a decline in political and civil liberties, polarization, and cultural strife between two political tribes,” he said.

Erdogan appeared to have prevailed despite years of economic turmoil that critics blamed on unorthodox economic policies that the opposition had vowed to reverse.

Uncertainty over what an Erdogan victory would mean for economic policy pushed the lira to record lows last week.

Reuters reported last week that there were disagreement within the Erdogan government on whether to continue with what some called an unsustainable economic program or abandon it.

Kilicdaroglu had vowed to restore governance, restore human rights and restore independence to the courts and the central bank after being sidelined for the past decade.

Additional reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun, Burcu Karakas, Daren Butler and Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul and Ece Toksabay and Nevzat Devranoglu in Ankara; Written by Alexandra Hudson and Tom Perry; Edited by Frances Kerry, Giles Elgood, and Howard Goller

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