First figures from Turkey: Erdogan allegedly with a clear lead

The vote in the Turkish elections is over. The opposition reports irregularities and violence. The developments in the news ticker.

• Klilicdaroglu and Erdogan vote: The CHP leader is confident that he will become Turkey's next president.
• Duel for the top: Kemal Kilicdaroglu challenges Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the Turkish election.
• Follow all developments on the Turkish election in our news ticker.

Update from May 14, 17:42 p.m.: According to the first official figures, Erdogan is now ahead of Kilicdaroglu. The incumbent is expected to get 49.85%, the challenger only 45.71 - a clear lead for Erdogan, even if only a little more than one percent of the votes have been counted so far.

Update from May 14, 17:25 p.m.: Turkish media are already reporting the first results of the Turkish elections - and a success for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. The challenger is said to have received 53.74 percent of the vote. Incumbent Erdogan would therefore only get 42.75%. The results are not official. Official figures are not to be announced before 20 p.m.

Update from May 14, 16:39 p.m.: Shortly after the end of the closure of the polling stations in the Turkish election, the opposition and human rights organizations reported attempts at manipulation. In Istanbul, the chairmanship of an electoral committee was cancelled because he tried to vote for another voter, reported Istanbul CHP leader Canan Kaftancioglu. In several cities, AKP election observers had tried to enter voting booths with voters. Pre-stamped ballot papers have also appeared in Giresun – all for President Erdoğan.

Update from May 14, 16:06 p.m.: The polling stations are closed. However, it will take some time before there are first forecasts or results. No results may be published until 17 p.m. Subsequently, broadcasters can publish the reports of the supreme electoral authority YSK. All results will be available from 20 p.m. at the latest.

Update from May 14, 15:55 p.m.: There are signs of a high voter turnout in the Turkish elections. According to opposition figures, some ballot boxes in the metropolis of Istanbul were already filled early Sunday afternoon, and queues had formed in front of many polling stations even before the morning opening.

In the Turkish election, the polling stations close at 16 p.m. German time. However, it will take some time before there are results. © Pavel Nemecek/Imago

Opposition politician hopes for "strong democracy" after Turkish election

Update from May 14, 15:16 p.m.: After casting his vote in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan travelled to Ankara. He landed in the capital in the early afternoon, the state news agency Anadolu reported. Actually, Erdogan wanted to follow the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections from Istanbul. He had said that at noon.

0

Also Read

First results in Turkish election: Erdogan currently well ahead of Kilicdaroglu

READ

Bremen election 2023: "As in the past with the gift-giving" - Bovenschulte is optimistic

READ

Situation "unacceptable" for shipping company: Russia seizes Danish ships of the Maersk group

READ

Turkey election: When will the first results be available?

READ

Moscow makes serious accusations against Kiev: "Regime is behind the murders"

READ

Fancy a voyage of discovery?

My Area

Update from May 14, 14:10 p.m.: Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu enjoys great popularity among opposition voters. If the opposition wins the election, he is to become one of the seven vice-presidents of candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu. He cast his vote in Istanbul's Beylikdüzü district. "I hope that the results of this election will bring a strong democracy to our country," he stressed after casting his vote. All votes must be counted and the result accepted, Imamoglu said. The mayor of Istanbul was considered one of the potential opposition candidates before Kilicdaroglu's candidacy.

Elections in Turkey: Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu cast their votes

Update from May 14, 12:39 p.m.: Turkish opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu expressed confidence when casting his vote in Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections. He cast his vote in the capital Ankara. Kilicdaroglu spoke to journalists. "We all missed democracy," he said, according to Halk TV. "You will see, spring will come," he added, thanking all Turkish voters before leaving the polling station with his wife Selvi Kilicdaroglu. "Spring will come" is also the motto of the Turkish opposition alliance.

Incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan cast his vote in Istanbul. He, too, appeared with his wife, Emine Erdogan. He stood in line and chatted with other voters. After casting his vote, Erdogan made a short statement. "The election has so far gone without any problems," he stressed, citing his interior minister, Süleyman Soylu, according to the broadcaster AHaber. It is important that as many voters as possible cast their ballots "to show the strength of Turkish democracy," Erdogan said.

Turkey election: Votes for Ince are recognised as valid despite withdrawal

Update from May 14, 8:57 a.m.: It's election day in Turkey. Voting for presidential and parliamentary elections has begun. From 8 a.m. to 17 p.m. (local time), a total of 60,697,845 eligible voters will be able to cast their votes at 191,910 ballot boxes nationwide. In today's elections, 4,904,672 people will also vote for the first time. Their votes, together with the votes abroad, are among the factors that will have a significant influence on the election result. Voters will be able to vote for four candidates in the presidential elections and 24 parties in the parliamentary elections.

One of the four presidential candidates, Muharrem Ince, withdrew a few days before the elections. However, the Supreme Electoral Authority YSK announced that the ballot papers would not be reprinted. The votes for Ince will be recognized as valid despite his withdrawal, the authority said. Therefore, Turkish voters will still see four candidates on the ballot.

Turkish elections: More than 60 million eligible voters

First reported on 13 May: Ankara – Turkey's elections are just around the corner: On Sunday (14 May 2023), more than 60 million eligible voters will decide who will be their head of state and head of government and represent them in the National Assembly. The election is a confrontation between the pro-government camp around incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the "Table of Six". This is the name of the alliance of six opposition parties around the Kemalist-social democratic CHP, which is united behind Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

In addition to Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu, Sinan Oğan is running for president. However, he has no realistic chance of winning the election. A fourth candidate, opposition politician Muharrem Ince, withdrew shortly before the election. A possible run-off election could still be decided by both, depending on whom their voters will support.

Erdogan vs. Kilicdaroglu: Will the AKP politician lose the first Turkish election in over 20 years?

Erdoğan has never lost an election in Turkey in more than 20 years. The AKP politician has been in power since 2002. In the run-up to the presidential election on 14 May, he is therefore relying primarily on election promises: he promises pupils tax-free computers and mobile phones. He is also planning new transport projects and wants to align wages and pensions with the inflation rate. Erdoğan promises the regions affected by the earthquake a rapid reconstruction. However, he does not say how this will be financed.

Reconstruction in the earthquake regions is also the focus of Kilicdaroglu's demands ahead of the Turkish elections. He also plans to make the region a hub for trade with Africa and the Middle East. In addition, the "Table of Six" promises to abolish the presidential system, which was only introduced in 2017 and concentrates the offices of the head of state and government on one person. In general, Killicdaroglu wants to strengthen democracy, human rights, freedom of the press and freedom of expression and release political prisoners.

Kilicdaroglu ahead of Erdogan in polls

Polls ahead of the Turkish presidential elections predict a victory for Kemal Kilicdaroglu. According to PolitPro, he is ahead of Erdogan on average in all polls.

• Kilicdaroglu: 48.9%
• Erdoğan: 43.2%

However, to be elected president in Turkey's election, Kilicdaroglu needs more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate achieves an absolute majority, there will be a run-off election in two weeks.

While Erdogan is trailing in the presidential election, things are looking better for his party in the polls. Currently, the AKP remains the strongest force in the National Assembly, as the parliament is called in Turkey. However, when comparing alliances, the situation is different. Some polls predict a majority for the "table of six". The PolitPro evaluation of various surveys at a glance:

In order for a party to enter the National Assembly in the Turkish elections, it must receive at least seven percent of the vote. (MS/BB/DPA/AFP)