Erdoğan Victorious in Turkey After Contested Election and Runoff

Photo Credit: Burak Kara/Getty Images via NPR

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey won a third term in office in May after an uncertain election that presented the strongest electoral challenge he has yet faced. Erdoğan has been President since 2014, previously having served as Prime Minister from 2003 up until his presidency. He received the largest share of votes in the election on May 14 with 49.5 per cent, while Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of an opposition coalition, received 44.9 per cent. Since no candidate received over 50 per cent, the presidency was decided by a runoff election on May 28, which Erdoğan won with 52.2 per cent to Kılıçdaroğlu’s 47.8 per cent. Turnout was high at 87.0 per cent in the first round and 84.2 in the second.

The election outcome contrasted with most polls, which had predicted an opposition victory. Various hardships have befallen Turkey in recent years, which were expected to erode support for Erdoğan. Inflation reached 85 per cent in October 2022 before settling to 44 per cent in May, according to the Turkish government. Despite this, Erdoğan has long promoted a policy of keeping interest rates low. Many economists say that reducing interest rates raises inflation.

Earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria in February, killing over 50,000 people and causing widespread destruction of cities and infrastructure. Erdoğan’s response to the disaster was criticized, with some seeing it as slow and ineffective. Nevertheless, his AK Party won parliamentary seats in 10 out of the 11 affected provinces.

Kılıçdaroğlu described the vote as “the most unfair election in years.” Erdoğan has long been criticized for his modifications to the Turkish political system, which opposition leaders say reduce democratic freedoms. In 2017 Erdoğan narrowly passed a motion that reformed the Turkish Constitution to abolish the office of Prime Minister and give the presidency more executive powers, which he assumed in 2018 after victory in a snap election.

During the month of April, Erdoğan received 32 hours of time on the state-run network TRT, while Kılıçdaroğlu was given 32 minutes. It is estimated by Reporters Without Borders that about 90 per cent of Turkey’s media is directly influenced by the presidency. Turkey’s elections have been characterized as “free but not fair” by international observers such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Photo Credit: Adem Altan/AFP Getty Images via Time

Kılıçdaroğlu pledged to reverse these changes and restore independence to the central bank and courts. “We want free media and complete judicial independence.” he told the BBC. “Erdoğan does not think that way. He wants to be more authoritarian.” 

Running on a platform of increasing freedom, making Turkey more democratic, and improving ties with the West, Kılıçdaroğlu said that he has “embraced all the different colours in the country,” promoting religious tolerance as well as women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. “I am telling young people they can criticise me freely. I will make sure they have this right,” he said. 

During his time in office, Erdoğan has stressed an Islamist approach to government, in contrast with his opponent’s secular platform. Turkey was founded on secular values by Kemal Atatürk in 1923. Erdogan’s policies have emphasized traditional family values, which often comes with restricting women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. “We are against the LGBT,” Erdogan proclaimed at one rally. “Family is sacred to us – a strong family means a strong nation.”

The results of the election were met with varied sentiment from around the world. US President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter that he “[looks] forward to continuing to work together [with Erdoğan] as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges.” Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations from the Kremlin, referring to Erdoğan as his “dear friend” and expressing appreciation for Erdoğan’s “personal contribution to the strengthening of friendly Russian-Turkish relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas.” 

In his victory speech, Erdoğan thanked all citizens for their participation in both stages of the election. “We have been given the task of leading this country for the next five years and I would like to thank you for this decision.” he said to a crowd of jubilant supporters, who soon began to chant “bye, bye, Kemal,” referring to Kılıçdaroğlu. “I guess the main opposition parties, the CHP, will also be saying ‘bye, bye, Mr. Kemal,’” Erdoğan said. He continued this combative rhetoric, a feature of many of his speeches, as well as his policies and foreign relations. “No one, not a single person, can threaten Turkey,” he declared. He also stressed unity, thanking all those who voted and declaring that “today, the winner is Turkey.”