Iftikhar Gilani from Ankara
World leaders have congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his victory in the presidential runoff.
Erdogan secured a commanding win on Sunday, amassing over 27 million votes in the face of opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu’s showing with at least 24.7 million votes.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes the remarks at a rally in Istanbul ahead of a runoff vote on Sunday to elect the country’s president.
Putin congratulates Erdogan on victory
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his apparent re-election, according to the Kremlin.
“The election victory was a natural result of your selfless work as the head of the Republic of Turkey, clear evidence of the support of the Turkish people for your efforts to strengthen state sovereignty and conduct an independent foreign policy,” Putin’s letter said.
Erdogan and Putin have been long-time allies, and Turkey has been more neutral on the Russian invasion of Ukraine compared to its Nato allies.
As international leaders join in extending their felicitations to Erdogan, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad was the first world leader to congratulate Erdogan, writing on social media.
“My dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan, congratulations on your victory – I wish you success in your new term – I wish for our strong relations to further our countries’ development & growth.”
Under Erdogan, Türkiye was one of the first countries that aided Qatar after a blockade was imposed by its Gulf neighbours in 2017.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh also issued a congratulatory message to Erdogan and the Turkish people for the president’s election victory.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also sent his message, praising, Erdogan’s “unquestionable election victory”.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev also congratulated President Erdogan on reelection in a phone call, inviting him to visit Baku in the near future.
On May 14 Erdogan’s People’s Alliance won a majority in parliament, while the presidential race headed to a runoff as no candidate won a simple majority or more than 50 percent. Erdogan, however, led with 49.52 percent.
In the runoff, Erdogan will face Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the head of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and joint candidate for the six-party opposition Nation Alliance.
“We will win in such a way that all of Türkiye with its 85 million individuals will win. Our nation with all its colours will win, and our democracy, for which we paid a great price, will win,” Erdogan said.