Erdoğan urges Turkish citizens abroad to vote in second round of presidential elections
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged Turkish citizens living abroad to exercise their democratic rights by participating in the second round of the Turkish presidential elections.
Taking to Twitter, he called on them to closely follow the election dates in their respective countries and emphasized that the voting process abroad and at customs gates will commence on Saturday.
Expressing his appreciation for the successful completion of the first round of elections, Erdoğan commended the Turkish voters living abroad for fulfilling their civic duty despite the challenges they faced.
“You have shown great favor to me and to the People's Alliance. You did not give in to the attempts of the members of the terrorist organization to intimidate, put pressure on you, and usurp your will,” Erdoğan said.
In the May 14 elections, over 1.8 million Turkish voters cast their votes from abroad to elect the president and members of the 600-seat Parliament.
While Erdoğan's People's Alliance secured a majority in Parliament, the presidential race is now headed for a second-round runoff on May 28.
Erdoğan emerged as the frontrunner in the first round and will face Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the joint candidate for the six-party opposition Nation's Alliance, in the upcoming round. (ILKHA)