Turkey’s Election: Erdogan Leads Preliminary Results, But Opposition Alleges Fraud

Erdogan leads with just under 52 percent of the vote when the votes from almost 55 percent of the ballot boxes are counted, according to national broadcaster TRT. Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has received just over 42 percent of the votes counted, it says.

The preliminary results must be taken with a large pinch of salt, says professor and Turkey expert Einar Wigen at the University of Oslo.

– It is far too early to say anything about the outcome of the presidential election, stressed Wigen after the first results ticked in.

Less management

– We are leading, Kilicdaroglu tweeted after the state media had reported on clear leadership for Erdogan.

The message was shared over 200,000 times within an hour. Kilicdaroglu did not elaborate on the claim, but his opposition allies say no one should trust the results from the state-owned Anadolu news agency.

– We can say this: Kilicdaroglu will be declared our country’s 13th president today, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said on Turkish TV on election night.

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, who like Imamoglu belongs to Kilicdaroglu’s CHP party, also cites results showing a deadlock between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu. It is unclear what he is basing the numbers on.

A spokesperson for Erdogan’s AKP party states that the preliminary results give Erdogan the lead.

The lead shrank

But most of the early votes appeared to come from strongly pro-government districts. Erdogan’s lead narrowed as the number of counted ballots grew, writes the AFP news agency.

The Turkish Electoral Commission lifted the ban on reporting on the election results more than two hours before the time on Sunday.

Several pre-election polls showed Kilicdaroglu with a slight advantage and was close to breaking the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff on May 28.

– Most important election in many years

There were queues outside the polling stations in many places when the Turks went to the polls for president and new parliament. The polling stations closed at 4 pm Norwegian time.

The election could give 69-year-old Erdogan another five-year term or oust him in favor of opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who has promised to strengthen democracy in the country.

The election is considered one of the most important in Turkey for many years and the biggest challenge Erdogan has faced in an election.

– I hope, by God, that the result when the counting is finished tonight is good for the country’s future and for Turkish democracy, Erdogan said when he voted in Istanbul on Sunday.

Kilicdaroglu hopes to replace Erdogan, who has been in power for 20 years.

– We have all missed democracy. But you will see a new spring in the country, God willing, Kilicdaroglu said after casting his vote.

A large turnout is expected

Around 64 million are eligible to vote. A further 3.4 million Turkish citizens living abroad could also vote in the election.

Voting was carried out without any problems, said head of the electoral authority Ahmet Yener after the polling stations had closed.

At the same time, accusations of vote fraud abounded in social media, writes Danmarks Radio. A video was shared on Twitter of a person who allegedly votes several times for Erdogan. Deputy leader of the opposition party The Republican People’s Party (CHP) is among those who have shared the video.

On election day, long queues formed outside schools that were used as polling stations. The queues were partly due to many voters having trouble folding large ballots into the envelope.

The ballots featured 24 political parties competing for 600 seats in parliament. In addition, voters had to cast a ballot for a presidential candidate.

– It is important for Turkey. It is important for the people, said Necati Aktuna, a voter in Ankara.

– I have voted for the last 60 years. I have not seen a more important election than this.

Concern related to earthquake affected area

Large crowds also gathered outside the polling stations where Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu cast their votes.

There has been concern about the conduct of the elections in the earthquake-affected provinces, where nine million people are eligible to vote.

Around three million of them have left the area, but only 133,000 have registered to vote for a new place of residence. Political parties and non-governmental organizations planned to transport people back to the constituency by bus, but it is unknown how many actually made the trip back.