ERDOGAN OR KILICDAROGLU? POLLS OPEN IN TURKISH ELECTION RUNOFF

Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan cast their ballots (Left) Kilicdaroglu and his wife Selvi Kilicdaroglu cast their ballots (Right)

Sun 28 May 2023:

Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu have cast their votes in Istanbul and Ankara respectively. Turks are voting in a run-off to elect a president for the next five years.

Lines at the polls are moving quickly since they opened at 8am (05:00 GMT) on Sunday. In the first round of voting on May 14, Erdogan got 49.5 percent of support. Kilicdaroglu, the main opposition challenger, received 44.9 percent. The elected president will set policy on Turkey’s economy, security, domestic and international affairs

Watch: Turkey's President Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan cast their ballots in Istanbul.#Turkeyelection2023 #Erdogan pic.twitter.com/fRiwiMl0aB

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) May 28, 2023

Erdogan urges Turks to vote after casting ballot

Erdogan greeted supporters as he cast his vote in Istanbul, calling on Turks to vote in the high-stakes election.

“I think the vote counting process will be very fast today. It is important to see such elections for the presidency for the Turkish democracy,” the incumbent said after voting.

“Participation at 90 percent is typical in the first round. Turkey affirmed its adherence to democracy with a 90 percent participation in the elections. I hope that the results of the elections will be good for Turkey. We appeal to voters to go to the polls and adhere to democracy,” he also said.

Kilicdaroglu votes in Ankara

Kilicdaroglu has voted at Argentina Primary School in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

“In order to get rid of the tyrannical regime and in order to establish real democracy, I appeal to all citizens to go to the polling stations.

“These elections are taking place under difficult conditions due to attempts at deception, but I believe that citizens are free and willing to go to the polls,” Erdogan’s rival said after voting.

In the first round of voting, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s People’s Alliance won a majority in parliament and he led the presidential election with 49.52 percent.

Erdogan will face Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the chairman of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and joint candidate for the six-party opposition Nation Alliance, in the run-off vote.

More than 60 million people are registered to vote, including 4.9 million first-time voters.

A total of 191,885 ballot boxes have been set up for voters in the country.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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