Turkish citizens prepare for runoff election as incumbent Erdogan faces Kılıçdaroğlu in historic contest

In the May 14 first round, Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu emerged as the leading contenders, but neither managed to secure a majority. The Supreme Election Council announced the official results, with Erdoğan receiving 49.52 percent, Kılıçdaroğlu obtaining 44.88 percent, and Sinan Oğan, another candidate, receiving 5.17 percent.

Erdoğan, who also leads the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), will engage in a historic showdown with Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party, in the runoff election. Both candidates have been actively campaigning to sway undecided voters, staging rallies and delivering impassioned speeches to emphasize their policy proposals.

Of particular note, approximately 6 million first-time voters participated in the May 14 election, while nearly 50,000 newly eligible voters who recently turned 18 will have the opportunity to cast their ballots in the upcoming second round, as confirmed by the Supreme Election Council. Millions of Turkish citizens eagerly await this election, as it will determine whether Erdoğan secures another term or if Kılıçdaroğlu's vision for change prevails.

Following the inconclusive first round, the Ata Alliance, which fielded Sinan Oğan as its presidential candidate, dissolved, with individual parties within the alliance making independent decisions on which candidate to support in the runoff. Oğan endorsed Erdoğan, while Ümit Özdağ, the leader of the Victory Party that led the alliance, announced their support for Kılıçdaroğlu after a series of meetings.

In terms of parliamentary results from the May 14 elections, characterized by a substantial voter turnout of 86.2 percent, with over 55 million citizens participating across 191,885 ballot boxes, the ruling People's Alliance, led by the AKP, secured 321 seats. The opposition Nation Alliance obtained 213 seats. The People's Alliance claimed the majority, with the AKP garnering 266 seats (35 percent), while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) secured 50 seats (10 percent). Conversely, the six-party Nation Alliance won 213 seats, with the Republican People's Party obtaining 169 seats (25.3 percent) and the Good Party earning 44 seats (9.7 percent) in the parliament. The Labor and Freedom Alliance included the Green Left Party (YSP) with 62 seats (8.8 percent) and the Workers' Party of Türkiye (TİP) with four lawmakers (1.7 percent). (ILKHA)