by Muslim Mirror Staff

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emerged victorious in the re-election process, as confirmed by the country’s Supreme Election Council and unofficial data provided by the state-run Anadolu Agency. The run-off election was tense, as Erdogan had failed to secure over 50 percent of the votes needed for an outright victory in the initial round held on May 14.

After nearly all the votes were counted, Erdogan obtained 52.14 percent of the votes in the second round on Sunday, surpassing his opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who garnered 47.86 percent, as reported by the Supreme Election Council.

The official confirmation of the result is anticipated in the following days, solidifying Erdogan’s position and marking a significant milestone in his political career. With this re-election, Erdogan extends his rule to a total of 25 years, surpassing the 15-year presidency of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. This outcome underscores Erdogan’s enduring influence and impact on Turkish politics.

In a show of appreciation to his supporters, Erdogan sang before expressing his gratitude to the adoring crowd. This display of celebration and acknowledgment towards his followers is a common practice for politicians after winning elections in many countries.

“We have completed the second round of the presidential elections with the favour of our people,” Erdogan said. “God willing we will be worthy of your trust as we have been for the last 21 years.”

President Erdogan further emphasized that the victory in the two rounds of voting on May 14 and May 28 was not just his personal triumph but a victory for all 85 million citizens of Turkey. By referring to the entire population as “victors,” Erdogan aimed to convey the message that the election outcome represented the collective will and choice of the nation as a whole.

After his appearance in Istanbul, President Erdogan proceeded to Ankara, where he addressed his supporters at the presidential palace. In his speech, he extended his congratulations to the gathered crowd and highlighted that the most pressing issue facing the country at present was inflation. Erdogan expressed confidence in resolving this problem, stating that it was not a challenging issue to tackle.

According to official data, Turkey’s inflation rate stood at 50.5 percent in March, reflecting a decrease from the peak of 85.6 percent recorded in October. These statistics provide a context for the severity of the inflation problem that the country has been grappling with, but Erdogan’s statement suggests his optimism in addressing and mitigating this issue moving forward.

“The most urgent issue… is to eliminate the problems arising from the price increases caused by inflation and to compensate for welfare losses,” the president said.

“We are not the only winners. Türkiye is the winner, our democracy is the winner,” Erdogan said.

The Qatari Emir was the first to congratulate Erdogan for the election victory. He said, “My dear brother, congratulations on your victory, and I wish you success in your new term, and that you achieve in it what the brotherly Turkish people aspire to in terms of progress and prosperity.”

Soon after, leaders from several countries congratulated Erdogan on the victory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his congratulations to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election. Despite occasional disagreements, Erdogan and Putin have maintained a close collaboration on important international matters. Putin’s message of congratulations reflects the continued engagement and diplomatic relationship between Russia and Turkey, emphasizing the significance of their ongoing cooperation despite any divergences in their positions on certain issues.

“Your victory in these elections is the logical result of your dedicated work as head of the Turkish Republic,” Mr. Putin said.  Putin told Mr. Erdogan, who he called his “dear friend”, that his victory was “clear evidence of the Turkish people’s support for your efforts to strengthen state sovereignty and pursue an independent foreign policy”.

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his congratulations to Mr. Erdogan on his victory in a significant runoff election through a tweet.

“I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges,” Biden tweeted.

https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1662924393524129799?s=20

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conveyed his congratulations to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election, highlighting the continued security collaboration between the two nations.

“Congratulations to @RTErdogan. I look forward to continuing the strong collaboration between our countries, from growing trade to tackling security threats as NATO allies,” he said.