ISTANBUL (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan extended two decades in power in Sunday’s election and won a mandate to pursue increasingly authoritarian policies that have polarized Turkey and cemented its status as a regional military power.
His rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, called the election “the most unfair in years” but did not question the result.
Official results showed that Kilicdaroglu won 47.9% of the vote against 52.1% for Erdogan, indicating a deeply divided nation.
The election was seen as one of the most crucial yet for Turkey, as the opposition believes it has a strong chance of ousting Erdogan and reversing his policies after his popularity has been hit by the cost of living crisis.
Instead, the victory cemented his image of invincibility, having already redrawn domestic, economic, security and foreign policy in the NATO member country of 85 million people.
The prospect of another five years of his rule is a major blow to opponents who accuse him of undermining democracy because he has gained more power – a charge he denies.
Kilicdaroglu’s defeat is likely to be mourned by Turkey’s NATO allies who are upset by Erdogan’s ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who congratulated his “dear friend” on his victory.
“The only winner today is Turkey,” Erdogan, 69, said, addressing cheering supporters from atop a bus in Istanbul. “I thank each and every one of our people who once again gave us the responsibility of ruling the country for another five years,” he said.
Erdogan’s victory extends his tenure as the longest-serving leader since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded modern Turkey from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire a century ago – a powerful political anniversary celebrated in October as Erdogan takes charge.
Erdogan, the leader of the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP), lured voters with nationalist and conservative rhetoric during a divisive campaign that deflected attention from deep economic woes.
In his victory speech, he again attacked the opposition, calling them homosexuals.
Kilicdaroglu, who promised to put the country on a more democratic and cooperative path, said the vote showed people’s desire to change an authoritarian government. He said, “I put all the means of the state under the feet of one man.”
Sad and frustrated
Erdogan’s supporters, who gathered outside his residence in Istanbul, chanted “God is great” or “God is great”.
“I expect everything will improve,” said Nessa, 28, a veiled woman wearing a headband bearing Erdogan’s name.
Another Erdogan supporter said Turkey would become stronger with him in office for another five years.
“There are issues and problems in every country around the world and in European countries as well,” said the supporter, who gave his name as Mert, 39. “With strong leadership, we will overcome Turkey’s problems as well.” son.
Bogra Oztuğ, 24, who voted for Kilicdaroglu, blamed the opposition for failing to change. “I feel sad and disappointed but I’m not hopeless. I still think there are people who can see facts and facts,” Öztug said.
Erdogan’s performance misfired opponents who thought voters would punish him for the country’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 a parliamentary election, his Justice and Development Party (AKP) came out on top in 10 of the 11 quake-hit provinces, helping him secure a parliamentary majority alongside his allies.
Fears for freedom
French President Emmanuel Macron offered congratulations, saying that France and Turkey have “huge challenges to face together”.
The presidents of Iran and 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 force. Erdogan, who for years has been at odds with several governments in the region, has taken a more conciliatory stance in recent years.
Emre Erdogan, a political science professor at Bilgi University in Istanbul, attributed Erdogan’s success to his supporters’ belief “in his ability to solve problems, even though he created a lot of them.”
Erdogan also maintained the support of conservative voters who have long felt marginalized. “This era will be marked by the decline of political and civil liberties, polarization and cultural battles between two political tribes,” he said.
Erdogan appeared to have prevailed despite years of economic turmoil that his critics blame on unorthodox economic policies that the opposition vowed to reverse.
Uncertainty about what an Erdogan victory would mean for economic policy pushed the lira to its lowest levels last week.
Reuters reported last week that there is disagreement within Erdogan’s government over whether to stick to or abandon what some call an unsustainable economic programme.
Kilicdaroglu had promised to reset governance, restore human rights, and restore independence to the courts and the central bank after they had been sidelined for the past decade.
Additional reporting by Ali Kocukugmen, Ezge Erkoyon, Burcu Karakas, Darren Butler and Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul and Ece Toksabay and Hüseyin Hayatcifer in Ankara.
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