Voters in Turkey cast their ballots today in hotly contested landmark parliamentary and presidential elections, which pose a significant challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after two decades in power.
Local Time: 11:25
Turkey’s presidential election likely to go to second round
Turkey’s Sunday presidential election appears to be headed for a runoff with more than 91 per cent of the votes counted according to Turkish Supreme Electoral Council figures in the early hours of Monday.
Neither incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan nor his rival Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu secured the necessary 50 per cent majority to avoid a run-off on 28 May. However, Erdoğan, seeking to extend his 21-year rule, currently holds a significant lead with him at 49.49 per cent over his rival at 44.79 per cent.
The Supreme Electoral Council reported that the counting of the ballots from the 3.4 million eligible overseas voters, who constitute a significant portion of the electorate, was not yet complete, and the possibility of a run-off election remains uncertain.
In the parliamentary election, Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) received 35 per cent of the vote, with more than 96 per cent of the votes counted, according to the state news agency. This is AKP’s worst score since its first election in 2002 when it received 34.28 per cent of the vote. The party now has fewer seats in parliament, but its alliance with three other parties means Erdoğan’s party has a majority in parliament, as well giving Erdoğan as an advantage in the second round.
The country’s left-wing Labour and Freedom Alliance led by the pro-Kurdish Green Left Party received 10.49 per cent of the votes in the parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, the deep polarisation in Turkey is reflected in the election results, with a third nationalist candidate, Sinan Oğan, holding 5.3 per cent of the vote, and potentially serving as kingmaker in the run-off depending on which candidate he endorses.
The closely contested election results have led to rising tensions through the night due to conflicting reports during the vote count following the polls. The opposition severely criticised state-run Anadolu Agency’s role in the election, accusing it of manipulating the timing of the results in elections to favour the AKP, and delaying the release of voting figures for areas where opposition is strong.
The opposition parties also accused Erdoğan’s party of delaying the release of full results, and artificially boosting his tally.
The election is widely seen as a verdict on Erdoğan’s increasingly authoritarian leadership and will have far-reaching implications, not only for who leads Turkey but also for its relationship with key global powers and its direction as a nation. With Turkey facing a severe cost-of-living crisis, the next president will also need to tackle pressing economic challenges.
2:35 (CET)
Kılıçdaroğlu says presidential vote will resolve in second round of elections
“Erdogan, despite all his slander and insult, has failed to achieve the results he expected. Do not have any hopes for a fait accompli – elections are not won on balconies,” said Kılıçdaroğlu in a press statement with leaders of the six parties in the Nation Alliance.
“If the nation wants a second round, we oblige. We will win this election in the second round, we will win for certain. Everybody will see,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.
“Erdogan has failed to get a vote of confidence he expected from the public. Among our society, the demand for change comprises more than 50 percent.”
“Our people can be sure that we will win and we will bring democracy to this country.”
2:15 (CET)
Latest:
As of 01:25 (CET), according to Turkish Supreme Electoral Council figures:
Opened ballots: 91.93
Recep Tayyip Erdogan: 49.49%
Kemal Kilicdaroglu 44.79%
2:03 (CET)
HDP raises concerns over missing vote count data in Turkey’s elections
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey raised concerns over the election body not processing millions of votes seven hours after voting ended. The YSK has shared less than 20 percent of counting records from the ballots with political parties, Tiryaki said.
“They have uploaded 87.13 percent of the results to the system,” the representative continued. “But less than 20 percent of the raw figures that the results are based on have been shared with political parties.”
Party volunteers at each ballot are entitled to a signed copy of the ballot record, which can then be compared with the official results that YSK announces. With more than 190,000 ballots nationwide, parties need official records to compare with their copies.
1:42 (CET)
Erdogan claims victory in Turkish election despite discrepancies in results
“We are in the lead by a large margin,” Erdogan told supporters at the AKP headquarters. “We know we are in the lead, but because we do not have the exact figures, we are waiting for the will of the people to manifest. As we wait, we wanted to give our traditional balcony speech already to respond to the love you have shown here.”
There is “not a single doubt” about the results, Erdogan said, and that he won 2.6 million more votes than Kilicdaroglu. Meanwhile, results announced by state-run Anadolu Agency, official body YSK, and the main opposition CHP show much discrepancy.
01:03 (CET)
More than 650,000 members of opposition parties currently on duty to defend the vote: HDP official
HDP representative Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki echoed Kılıçdaroğlu’s angry comments earlier on delays. Some 75% of the vote in Istanbul has still not been processed, Tiryaki said. “This is the only reason: They are trying to delay the process by objections.”
There are more than 650,000 members of opposition parties currently on duty to defend the vote, Tiryaki said.
00:32 (CET)
Latest figures
As of 00:55 local time, YSK figures as relayed by journalist Alican Uludag show President Erdoğan dip below 50%
- Ballots opened: 81.93%
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan: 49.98%
- Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: 44.27%
CHP’s own figures as of 01:00 show:
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: 45.13%
- Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: 48.93%
23:55 (CET)
Opposition stronghold ballot boxes hindered by constant objections and recounts: Kılıçdaroğlu
“In ballots with high votes for us, they are blocking the system via objections,” Kılıçdaroğlu told reporters. At least 300 ballots in Ankara and 783 in Istanbul have received “insistent objections”, with some ballots counted 11 times. “Stop playing with the perception. This is a serious matter. Let the votes come in, let the result come out. Do not fear the will of the people.”
Kılıçdaroğlu called on the Supreme Electoral Council to be “responsible” and announce all results without “stalling the People”.
23:35 (CET)
Objections to delayed count that exaggerates Erdoğan’s vote
Justice Development Party (AKP) and National Movement Party (MHP) ballot box attendants unusually object to the ballot results where the opposition is dominant in order to delay the completion of vote counting, and this leads to People’s Alliance votes appearing higher than they actually are, said Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki, the spokesperson for the Green Left Party Election Monitoring and Coordination Centre, at 23:30 (CPT).
AKP and MHP members, thanks to their majority in the committees, force a recount of these numerous ballot boxes and try to prevent the submission of the results to the election boards, Tiryaki said, adding: “But they cannot sustain these objections forever. Even if they count multiple times or obtain the results they want from some of the boxes, they will ultimately be unable to change the actual figures.”
According to the initial figures shared by the Anadolu Agency, there was a 10 percent decrease in Erdoğan’s votes only three hours later, while Kılıçdaroğlu’s votes increased by the same percentage during the same period, he said.
“The Green Left Party’s number of parliamentary seats has increased from none to around 60, according to Anadolu. Similarly, the People’s Alliance will not be able to secure more than 300 seats in the parliament, contrary to the figures shown so far.”
23:21 (CET)
69 percent of all ballots now processed: Supreme Electoral Council Chairman
Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council Chairman Ahmet Yener announced at midnight local time that 69.12 percent of all ballots had been opened. Votes continue to be processed, Yener said, and the final official results will be announced “in the coming hours when all ballots have been opened”. There are no delays or hiccups at this time, and representatives from political parties are monitoring the process, he added.
23:11 (CET)
Kılçdaroğlu in lead with 47.7 to Erdogan’s 45.8 at 67 percent of processed ballots: latest figures
Ankara mayor and vice presidential candidate Mansur Yavas told reporters that:
Based on 42 million votes in 130,260 ballots (69.67% of all ballots) already processed,
Kemal Kilicdaroglu has won 19,997,000 votes (47.7%), while Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won 19,286,000 (45.8%).
CHP still needs to process another 60,000 ballots.
22:42 (CET)
“We are winning”: Opposition bloc’s Meral Akşener
Meral Akşener, leader of the Good Party (İYİP) – part of the main opposition six-party bloc- made a statement after the vote counting started. Akşener said, “We are here until the morning! Don’t worry; everything is fine under the sun! We are winning.”
22:39 (CET)
Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan drops below 50%, according to state-run Anadolu Agency
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, given the lead by the official media at the start of the evening on Sunday, fell below 50% after counting almost all of the ballots, according to the state agency Anadolu.
Erdoğan won 49.86 percent of the votes out of 90 percent of the ballots counted in the provisional results, according to Anadolu, opening up the prospect of a second round on 28 May. The main opposition candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, is due to win 44.38 percent of the vote and Sinan Ogan 5.30 percent.
22:25 (CET)
“Believe me, change is near”: Temel Karamollaoğlu
Temel Karamollaoğlu, the leader of the Islamist Felicity Party (SP) – part of the main opposition six-party bloc – has called on everyone to protect the ballot boxes.
“They are once again trying to play out the same stale scenarios we watch every election. Our nation can rest assured! We will complete this difficult process without being caught up in perception games and manipulations,” he said. “Believe me, change is near.”
22:10 (CET)
International organisation warns on manipulated vote count in opposition strongholds
Electoral observers from the internationalist movement Progressive International urge patience until every vote is counted. “We are alarmed that the Supreme Election Council’s website is down, reporting has slowed in regions with opposition support, and allegations of final result manipulation continue to grow,” said the organisation.
21:55 (CET)
Diyarbakır’s election result data not uploaded to Supreme Election Council’s system
According to reports, Kılıçdaroğlu received around 72 percent of the votes in Diyarbakır (Amed). However, Diyarbakır’s election result data has not been uploaded to the Supreme Election Council’s system. Hundreds of polling officials have formed long queues in front of the council’s offices and the queue is getting longer.
21:50 (CET)
“These manoeuvers to muddy the waters and demoralise are futile. Keep your eyes and ears on us!”: Mithat Sancar
HDP Co-chair Mithat Sancar said that the state-run Anadolu Agency is committing a crime by “blatantly manipulating” the public. He added, “Let us not forget for a moment that Anadolu is the voice of the government. These manoeuvers to muddy the waters and demoralise are futile. Keep your eyes and ears on us!”
21:41 (CET)
Kılıçdaroğlu says state-run news agency’s reports on ballot box results are “fiction”
“The fiction that started with 60 percent has now fallen below 50 percent. Our ballot box observers and election board officials should never leave their posts,” said Presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
His statement was in response to the state-run Anadolu Agency’s early election results, showing Erdoğan standing at around 60 percent soon after the vote count had begun.
Kılıçdaroğlu warned the Supreme Electoral Council must ensure data entry, referring to reports that ballot box results were not being processed due to objections made by AKP members in areas where the opposition have a high vote share.
21:35 (CET)
First statement from Erdoğan
President Erdoğan made his first statement as the vote count was still underway: “While the elections took place in such a positive and democratic atmosphere, and while the vote counting is still ongoing, hastily announcing the results would be a usurpation of the national will.”
21:21 (CET)
Kılıçdaroğlu leads race in Istanbul: state-run agency
The opposition’s presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is slightly ahead of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city that holds one-fifth of the country’s voters, reported state-run Anadolu Agency (AA).
According to Anadolu’s verified data, as of 21:30 (CPT), 65,19 percent of votes have been counted in Istanbul, and Kılıçdaroğlu’s vote in the city currently stands at 48,15 percent against Erdoğan’s 46,94.
In previous elections Anadolu was known to manipulate vote counts in favour of Erdoğan’s government, by prioritising data from regions where Erdoğan and AKP’S voter base is stronger, which makes final results significantly different from early data announced by the agency.
20:23 (CET)
Kılıçdaroğlu outpaces Erdoğan in Kurdish-majority cities according to early results
In Kurdish-majority provinces the opposition’s joint presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is making a strong lead, with 44.30 percent of ballot boxes opened.
As the counting of votes cast in the presidential and parliamentary elections continues, Kılıçdaroğlu has outpaced president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey’s southeastern cities, according to the opposition-affiliated ANKA news agency.
Out of the 44.30 percent of ballot boxes opened so far, Kılıçdaroğlu has received 72.07 percent in Diyarbakır (Amed), 68.07 percent in Batman (Êlîh), 72.77 percent in Şırnak (Şirnex), 69.39 percent in Mardin (Mêrdîn), 76.89 percent in Hakkari (Colemêrg) and 60.66 percent in Van (Wan).
20:15 (CET)
Kılıçdaroğlu leads in Ankara, Istanbul
Mayor of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mansur Yavaş: “Out of 192,169 ballot boxes, the results of 91,913 ballot boxes have come in. Kılıçdaroğlu has 47.42 percent of the vote, Mr. Erdoğan 46.80 percent, Mr. Sinan Ogan 5.33 percent.”
Kılıçdaroğlu is ahead in the capital, Ankara, and Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, said Yavaş.
19:50 (CET)
“Opposition candidate Kılıçdaroğlu ahead in early results”: CHP’s Kaftancıoğlu
The candidate of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, is leading with 51.47% of the vote, according to the party’s Istanbul provincial chair, Canan Kaftancıoğlu. The incumbent president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is trailing with 43.91% of the vote, with 40% of ballots counted.
The elections are being closely watched by both domestic and international observers. In recent years, the country has been mired in political controversy and social unrest, with concerns raised over the government’s handling of human rights issues and the rule of law.
“We are ahead,” Kılıçdaroğlu wrote on his Twitter account. State-run Anadolu Agency still shows Erdoğan as leading.
19:30 (CET)
“Anadolu Agency should never be trusted, we are ahead in 81 provinces”: CHP mayors
The opposition’s vice presidential candidates, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, held a press conference on behalf of the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), to address the credibility of state-run Anadolu Agency and advised citizens not to trust the agency’s reporting.
“Anadolu Agency has been ineffective since 2019,” İmamoğlu said. “Its credibility is below zero. Citizens should never trust it. It has no value for us.”
19:20 (CET)
State-run Anadolu Agency shares manipulated election results in Turkey: HDP official
People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Election Monitoring Coordination Center spokesperson Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki, has accused Turkey’s state-run news agency, Anadolu Agency, of sharing manipulated election results in favour of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Tiryaki claimed that Anadolu received the figures directly from the AKP headquarters and that the official results were far from what the news agency had reported. Tiryaki urged voters not to trust Anadolu’s results and instead wait for the Supreme Election Council’s official data to arrive. He also claimed that they already had 20 percent of the official vote count results and that the figures were far from what Anadolu had reported.
18:42 (CET)
Two news agency shares contradicting results, opposition accuses state-run agency of manipulation
A member of Turkey’s opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Mahmut Tanal, has accused the state-run Anadolu news agency of manipulating election results in favour of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party.
Tanal’s tweet came after discrepancies occurred in the election results according to the number of ballot boxes opened, as reported by the opposition-affiliated Anka Agency and state-run Anadolu Agency.
Tanal stated that the Anadolu is once again engaging in its usual manipulation of election results in favour of Erdoğan and the AKP. He added that in the initial stages, the agency is trying to undermine morale by showing high support for the president and his party. Tanal urged all those who back democracy to patiently remain at the ballot boxes.
“We all know the controversial situation of the Anadolu news agency in previous elections. Don’t fall for their game, we have just begun!” Tanal said in his tweet.
Turkey’s opposition has long accused the Anadolu news agency of being biased towards the ruling party, which has been in power for nearly two decades. Erdoğan has repeatedly denied such accusations, stating that the agency is impartial and professional.
17:17 (CET)
Kılıçdaroğlu calls on voters to remain at ballot boxes
After the counting of votes began, Kılıçdaroğlu tweeted urging ‘democracy heroes’ not to leave the ballot boxes until the signed final vote counts were delivered, regardless of what happened.
16:52 (CET)
CHP Istanbul provincial chairwoman calls on voters to act as observers
CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairwoman Canan Kaftancıoğlu announced minutes before the closing of polling stations for the parliamentary and presidential elections that turnout in Istanbul was at a record level and expected to exceed 90 per cent.
Kaftancıoğlu said, “Except for a few isolated incidents during the voting process in Istanbul, our citizens cast their votes without hitch and in a cheerful atmosphere,” and called on voters to act as observers during the vote counting process at the polling stations where they had cast their votes.
16:44 (CET)
Reports of election violations emerge from Batman
Several incidents of election violations have been reported by Özgür Yeni Politika in the province of Batman (Êlih) during Turkey’s elections.
16:36 (CET)
Reports of voter intimidation and irregularities across Turkey
Reports are coming in of voter intimidation and election irregularities across Turkey.
15:00 (CET)
Syrian militants cross into Turkey to vote for Erdoğan: ANHA
Large numbers of militants associated with jihadist groups in Azaz and Afrin in Syria crossed into Turkey on 12 May in order to cast votes for President Erdoğan, reports ANHA, quoting trusted sources.
The militants, whose identities and affiliations have been listed by the ANHA, were previously granted Turkish citizenship, and therefore also the right to vote in the elections.
14:13 (CET)
Village head in Adıyaman casts votes on behalf of villagers, reports journalist
“Mehmet Bulut, the village head of Olgunlar village in central Adıyaman (Semsûr), is casting votes on behalf of the villagers, saying ‘I am authorised for everything’,” reported journalist Amed Dicle.
13:59 (CET)
Reports of forced block voting in Mardin
Journalist Amed Dicle reported that relatives of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate Faruk Kılıç attacked Green Left Party election observers who wanted to record enforced block voting in Mardin (Mêrdîn).
13:35 (CET)
Attempt to block opposition voters in Gaziantep: HDP and Green Left Party take action
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Green Left Party Election Monitoring and Coordination Centre are taking action against an attempt to prevent opposition voters from voting in Gaziantep (Dîlok), where about a thousand voters were made electoral officers attached to the Vatan (Patriotic) Party without their knowledge, rendering them unable to vote due to the absence of a crucial document.
The voters in question were appointed as electorsl officers at polling stations other than those at which they were registered. Most of them were elderly or illiterate, and assumed they would vote at their usual polling stating. But when they arived their names weren’t in the voter lists for that polling station, they were listed elsewhere. But even if they can get to the other polling station, they need to show a particular document to be able to cast their vote there.
The document in question is one which which is normally issued to officials who are assigned to work away from their places of registration on election day, and shows where they are allowed to vote. However, these voters had not been issued the document although they somehow had been made ‘electoral officers’.
12:41 (CET)
Presidential candidates cast their votes
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the 13th presidential candidate, expressed his optimism about the future of the country after casting his vote in Ankara. He stated that “spring would come to the country and always continue”.
President Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan cast their votes in Üsküdar, Istanbul, with Erdoğan stating that the voting is proceeding without any issues, as reported to him by the Interior Minister, and claiming that there were no problems with voting in the earthquake zone.
12:16 (CET)
HDP and Green Left Party officials cast their votes in Turkish elections
Co-chairs of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and spokespersons of the Green Left Party have expressed their hopes for change and democratic progress in Turkey through their votes in the parliamentary and presidential elections.
10:53 (CET)
International observers monitor Turkey’s elections
A team of 403 international observers from various European countries is monitoring Turkey’s presidential and general elections. The team includes political party representatives, lawyers, academics, researchers and journalists, and is overseeing the voting and counting process across the country.
The observers are part of a joint initiative by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. They aim to ensure the election process is fair and transparent, amidst concerns of government manipulation and authoritarian rule. Observers will share their findings through official channels and independent websites.
10:50 (CET)
Polling stations experience busy start to election day
Turkish polling stations have experienced a busy start to election day, with reports from voters and observers indicating long queues forming even before the polls opened.
Analysts expect a higher percentage of voter participation in today’s polls than in previous elections.
10:45 (CET)
German politician: “Probably last chance” to oust Erdoğan
The chairman of the German parliamentary foreign affairs committee, Michael Roth, has stated that the Turkish elections are “probably the last chance” for the opposition to democratically oust President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from power after his two decades in office.
However, he cautioned that while the presidential and parliamentary elections may be free, they are “by no means fair,” due to the efforts of Erdoğan and his supporters to tighten their control over the media, the electoral commission and the judiciary. Speaking to German media group RND, Roth highlighted the growing concerns over the state of democracy in Turkey.
High-stakes election underway in Turkey
Polls opened at 08:00 local time (07:00 CET) and will close at 17:00. Media outlets have been barred from reporting partial results until an embargo is lifted at 21:00, and no exit polls are permitted.
The elections will see citizens of Turkey elect both a president and a parliament for a five-year term. To win the presidency in the first round, a candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate achieves this, a run-off will be held on 28 May between the two leading candidates. Voters will also elect 600 members of parliament.
For the first time in his 20-year tenure, President Erdoğan is facing an opponent who leads in opinion polls ahead of the vote. The pro-secular Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, is the joint candidate of a united opposition alliance and has a slight lead over Erdoğan, according to the latest opinion surveys.