Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed to secure a majority vote in his reelection battle on Monday, meaning that he and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who leads the nation's opposition alliance, will head to a runoff later this month. With more than 90% of ballots counted, Erdogan led KilicDaroglu 49.49% to 44.79% as of Sunday evening.
Both men acknowledged that a runoff was certain later Monday, though each claimed to be ahead in the vote count and accused the state-run Anadolu Agency of manipulating the numbers. In separate press conferences held by both candidates, they expressed their confidence about winning the second round while questioning the transparency of the counting process.
Erdogan stated: "I am confident that our people will make their final decision for stability and progress during this critical period." He continued by emphasizing his commitment towards improving Turkey's economy and international relations if reelected.
Kilicdaroglu responded similarly: "We have entered into a new era where democracy prevails over autocracy. The citizens have shown their desire for change through these votes."
The outcome of this election will have significant consequences on U.S.-Turkey relations as well as within NATO because Erdogan's tough leadership style has caused friction among member countries due to his alliances with prominent authoritarians such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Political analyst Emre Deliveli remarked on this situation: "This election is not only about domestic politics but also about Turkey’s foreign policy orientation." Deliveli added that an electoral victory for Kilicdaroglu could signal a shift towards stronger democratic values internally and improved cooperation within NATO externally.
As tensions remain high leading up to the runoff election date yet-to-be-announced later this month, all eyes are focused on Turkey’s political landscape and its potential future impact on international relations.