Erdogan is the founder of the Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) who has been ruling Turkey for the past 20 years, first as the Prime Minister and then the President. He has been criticised for diluting Turkey's secular credentials and moving it towards religious conservatism.

What about the Opposition?

Six parties have joined hands to mount a strong contest to topple Erdogan, with 74-year-old Kemal Kilicdaroglu as their presidential candidate. The alliance aims to return Turkey to a "strong parliamentary system" and has promised to roll back some constitutional changes instituted by Erdogan to cement his power. The other candidate in the fray currently is Sinan Ogan, who is supported by an alliance of small, ultranationalist parties. He is expected to have a very slim chance of a victory.

What are the key issues for voters?

There are broadly three main issues that were at the forefront during polls. First and foremost, the government's response to the February earthquakes that killed more than half a lakh Turks and left millions injured and homeless has been a polarizing topic. As per a report in Deutsche Welle, while the Hatay district (which is still reeling from the effects of the quake) has been critical of Erdogan's government's response, the other most-affected Kahramanmaras city remains an AKP stronghold. Other issues include the rising cost of living and the erosion of civil rights in the country.

Who is currently winning?

Neither. It's a very tight race. Reports by the state-run news agency Anadolu said that Erdogan had 49.3% of the vote, while opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, had 45% of the vote.

As per Turkish law, a contender needs to win 50% of the total votes to win outright. In the absence of such a clear majority, a second round of voting (termed run-off) will be held, most likely on May 28 (Sunday). If that is the case, the third candidate Sinan Ogan could emerge as a kingmaker.

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Turkey presidential elections: Erdogan or Kilicdaroglu? 5 points to guide you

The results of the Turkish elections are being closely watched by the Western media, which sees an Erdogan win as a headache due to his closeness to Russia.

By: Express Web Desk
Updated: May 15, 2023 01:20 PM IST

1 min read

The results of the Turkish elections are being closely watched by the Western media (AP)

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bid to continue as Turkey’s President may come to fruition still as the election race tightened on Monday, with a possibility of going to run-off. Speaking to supporters in Ankara, the 69-year-old leader said he could still win but would respect the nation’s decision if the race went to a runoff vote in two weeks.

The results of the Turkish elections are being closely watched by the Western media, which sees an Erdogan win as a headache due to his closeness to Russia. Opinion polls had widely predicted that he may lose his iron grip on the Ankara government, especially after the criticism his government faced in the wake of the devastating earthquakes earlier this year.

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Here are 5 key points from the Turkish elections:

01
Who is Erdogan?
Erdogan is the founder of the Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) who has been ruling Turkey for the past 20 years, first as the Prime Minister and then the President. He has been criticised for diluting Turkey's secular credentials and moving it towards religious conservatism.
02
What about the Opposition?
Six parties have joined hands to mount a strong contest to topple Erdogan, with 74-year-old Kemal Kilicdaroglu as their presidential candidate. The alliance aims to return Turkey to a "strong parliamentary system" and has promised to roll back some constitutional changes instituted by Erdogan to cement his power.

The other candidate in the fray currently is Sinan Ogan, who is supported by an alliance of small, ultranationalist parties. He is expected to have a very slim chance of a victory.
03
What are the key issues for voters?
There are broadly three main issues that were at the forefront during polls.

First and foremost, the government's response to the February earthquakes that killed more than half a lakh Turks and left millions injured and homeless has been a polarizing topic. As per a report in Deutsche Welle, while the Hatay district (which is still reeling from the effects of the quake) has been critical of Erdogan's government's response, the other most-affected Kahramanmaras city remains an AKP stronghold. Other issues include the rising cost of living and the erosion of civil rights in the country.
04
Who is currently winning?
Neither. It's a very tight race.

Reports by the state-run news agency Anadolu said that Erdogan had 49.3% of the vote, while opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, had 45% of the vote.
05
What happens next?
As per Turkish law, a contender needs to win 50% of the total votes to win outright. In the absence of such a clear majority, a second round of voting (termed run-off) will be held, most likely on May 28 (Sunday). If that is the case, the third candidate Sinan Ogan could emerge as a kingmaker.