Turkey’s incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and challenger Kemal Kiliçdaroglu are preparing for a second round of elections.
Erdogan is leading but without a majority in the ongoing vote count in the presidential election.
The vote count is not complete. But President Erdogan still spoke at the party headquarters in Ankara, on the night of Monday.
– We do not yet know if the election will end in the first round, said a victorious Erdogan from the balcony where he gave his victory speech in previous presidential elections.
He himself had expected to win already in the first round, continued the sitting president.
– If our nation has chosen a second round, that is also welcome.
The result not clear
With just over 91.9 percent of the votes counted, President Erdogan has 49.5 percent, while challenger Kemal Kiliçdaroglu from the CHP party has 44.8 percent, the head of the Turkish electoral authority Ahmet Yener said during the night, according to the BBC.
A majority of the foreign votes have yet to be counted, according to the electoral authority.
If none of the candidates reaches 50 percent when the vote count is complete, there will be a second round of elections on May 28.
– If our nation wants to see a second round, we will absolutely win a second round, Kiliçdaroglu said during the night.
– The desire for change in society is higher than 50 percent, he continued.
Allegations of manipulation
During the election night, the opposition has claimed through its own channels that the vote count was manipulated and that the state news agency Anatolia first released counted votes from Erdogantunga districts.
Kiliçdaroglu claimed earlier on Sunday night that the vote count in districts where he has won has been systematically appealed by Erdogan’s AKP, reportedly delaying the reporting of votes where the opposition is strong.
Erdogan’s AKP has called the opposition’s statements “irresponsible”.
Support from third candidate?
The third presidential candidate, Sinan Ogan, who previously belonged to the strongly nationalist MHP, has received around five percent of the vote.
His voters could play a decisive role in a second round election.
– We will not say whether we will support this or that candidate, Ogan said during the night.
– We will consult with their representatives and then make a decision.