“Erdogan Wins Second Term in Turkish Presidential Election”

In a victory speech to thousands of people, President Erdogan called for unity and solidarity. “We ask this with all our hearts,” Erdogan said.

He also thanked his voters. “I want to thank every citizen who thinks I am capable of running this country for another five years,” he told supporters at his presidential palace in Ankara.

According to the re-elected president, there are no losers. “Nobody lost today. All 85 million people won. Our nation won and our democracy won.”

Furthermore, Erdogan said last night that inflation is the most pressing problem for the country, but promised improvement. He also said that he intends to leave all disputes behind and “unite behind national values ​​and dreams.” He did, however, lash out at the opposition, accusing opposition leader and rival Kilicdaroglu of siding with terrorists.

Erdogan won the second and decisive round of the presidential election last night. Erdogan got 52 percent of the vote, opposition leader Kilicdaroglu got 48 percent.

Kilicdaroglu called last night’s election the “unfairest election in years.” Although he has not disputed the outcome.

In his speech, the Turkish president also mentioned former opposition leader Selahattin Demirtas, who has been imprisoned for years in a Turkish prison. He called the former HDP chairman a terrorist and said he will not be released because this would not be possible under his administration.

Demirtas was imprisoned ahead of the 2018 elections for allegedly supporting the Kurdish PKK. He denies the allegations. The European Court of Human Rights already ruled in November 2018 on Demirtas’ unjustly long imprisonment.