With 97 percent of the votes counted, Erdogan got 49.37 percent of the votes. His opponent, Mustafa Kemal Kechdarolu, got 44.94 percent of the votes.
In the first phase of voting, a candidate must win 51 percent of the vote. If not, the election law in Turkey calls for a second round of voting. The second phase election is on 28th of this month.
The world is watching whether Rajab Tayyip Erdogan, who has been ruling Turkey for 20 years, will return to power. Six opposition parties have come together against Erdogan this time. Mustafa Kemal Kecdarolu, 74, the leader of the opposition CHP party, the Nation Alliance, is Erdogan’s main rival.
The CHP is a party founded by Mustafa Komal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. The Nation Alliance is made up of left-wing parties, right-wing organizations and Islamist parties.
Economic crisis and inflation are the biggest challenges faced by Erdogan. The opposition also criticized the government for not intervening in the earthquake that claimed more than 50,000 lives. The opposition also promised to demolish the presidential system introduced by Erdogan. But Erdogan’s mission is to lead Turkey to the former glory of the Islamic Caliphate.