After a tense election season, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has announced victory in the Turkey Elections 2023. According to the initial results, the AK Party has won a majority of seats in the country’s Grand National Assembly, securing a fourth consecutive term in government.

Final results are coming in as more than 94 percent of the votes have been counted thus far. Erdogan’s current share of the votes stands at 49.59 percent while Kilicdaroglu’s share stands at 44.67.

The polls opened at 8:00 AM (0500 GMT) and closed at 5:00 PM (1400 GMT). Media organisations were barred from reporting partial results until an embargo was lifted at 6:30 PM (1530 GMT) by The Supreme Election Council (YSK).

“We have received a clear mandate from our people to continue our efforts towards building a stronger and more prosperous Turkey,” stated President Erdogan in his victory speech. The president also thanked his supporters and the Turkish people for their trust and confidence in his leadership.

However, opposition leaders have criticized the election, claiming that there were several irregularities and potential instances of voter fraud. The CHP has demanded a recount of the votes, but the electoral commission has rejected this request.

The 2023 elections were seen as a crucial moment in Turkey’s political landscape, with many important issues at stake, such as the country’s economic recovery, its relations with neighboring countries, and the ongoing refugee crisis. As the results show, President Erdogan’s leadership remains popular among many Turkish citizens, despite the criticisms and controversies that have surrounded his administration.

If no candidate secures more than half the votes in the first round of voting, a May 28 run-off will be held.

A total of 191,885 ballot boxes have been set up for voters in the country.

Source: Agencies