Recep Tayyip Erdogan has secured a historic third victory in Turkey’s presidential election, defeating opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the May 28 runoff vote.
Erdogan won 52.14% of the votes compared to Kilicdaroglu who received 47.86%, according to the official results announced by Turkey’s Supreme Election Council.
This was reported to be the most difficult election of Erdogan, whose AK Party has been in power since 2002.
Erdogan assumed the position of prime minister the year after, and in 2014, he took on the role of president. Over the years, Erdogan has steadily consolidated power, especially after surviving a coup attempt in 2016 and subsequently overseeing the transition from a parliamentary system to a presidential one in the following year.
“The only winner today is Turkey”: Erdogan
Speaking to thousands of his supporters outside the presidential complex in Ankara on Sunday, Erdogan said: “We are not the only winners, the winner is Türkiye. The winner is all parts of our society, our democracy is the winner.”
He said that it was time to “put aside all the debates and conflicts regarding the election period and unite around our national goals and dreams.”
Erdogan also thanked his supporters for entrusting him with the presidency for five more years. “I thank each member of our nation for entrusting me with the responsibility to govern this country once again for the upcoming five years,” he said.
Bize yeni bir zafer daha yaşatan milletimiz var olsun. Türkiye Yüzyılı kutlu olsun. Büyük Türkiye zaferimiz hayırlı olsun. 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/SRzasZGvuZ
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) May 28, 2023
He promised to work hard for Turkey’s second century, which he calls the “Turkish century.” The country marks its centennial this year.
Erdogan said among the government’s main priorities would be battling inflation and healing the wounds from a catastrophic earthquake on February 6 which killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and neighboring Syria.
Celebrations
Supporters of Erdogan took to the streets to celebrate, waving Turkish and ruling party flags, and honking car horns. Celebratory gunfire was heard in several Istanbul neighborhoods.
In Germany, home to approximately 3 million people of Turkish descent, Kurfürstendamm Avenue in Berlin and Koln’s Friesenplatz district teemed with cars and enthusiastic crowds waving Turkish flags and photos of Erdogan.
Cumhurbaşkanımız @RTErdogan:
— Erdoğan Dijital Medya (@RTEdijital) May 28, 2023
“Büyük Türkiye zaferimiz hayırlı olsun.” pic.twitter.com/iDQ6vWYiXG
Celebrations also took place in other Europan cities, including Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Zurich in Switzerland and Strasburg in France.
Hundreds of Turks joined in the joyful celebrations in Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Palestine and Algeria, filling the streets with cheers, flags, and fireworks.
In Qatar, the Al Jaber Twin Towers in Doha was illuminated with Turkish flags and an image of Erdoğan, commemorating his victory.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, Turkish residents flooded the streets alongside Pakistani citizens, their cars adorned with Turkish flags.
World leaders congratulate Erdogan
World leaders rushed to congratulate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after he won re-election in a historic run-off.
United States — US President Joe Biden and top diplomat Antony Blinken congratulated Erdogan on his victory. “I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges,” Biden said in a tweet.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Turkey “a valued NATO Ally and partner.”
Congratulations to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye on his re-election.
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 28, 2023
I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges.
China — Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Erdogan on his re-election as Turkish president. Xi said China and Turkey, both major developing countries and emerging markets, share extensive common interests and called for collaboration in diverse fields.
United Kingdom — Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he looked forward to continuing the “strong collaboration” between the UK and Turkey including “tackling security threats as NATO allies”.
Germany — In congratulating Erdogan, Chancellor Olaf Scholz noted how “deeply intertwined” the people and economies of both countries are, adding that “together we want to advance our common agenda with a fresh impetus!”
Germany and Türkiye are close partners and allies, our people and economies are deeply intertwined. Congratulations to President Erdoğan – together we want to advance our common agenda with a fresh impetus!
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) May 28, 2023
France — French President Emmanuel Macron said France and Turkey “will continue to move forward”.
Qatar — Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani congratulated Erdogan on his new term as president. He said “My dear brother Recep Tayyip Erdogan, congratulations on your victory. I wish you success in your new term, and that you achieve through it what the Turkish people aspire to in terms of progress and prosperity, and progress and growth for our strong bilateral relations” he wrote.
Azerbaijan — Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Erdogan in a phone call and invited him to Baku.
Baku celebrates Erdogan's re-election, elated that Azerbaijan will be able to continue its unrestrained ethnic cleansing and landgrab attempts against Armenia with the full support of NATO member Turkey pic.twitter.com/UfV6We0RP3
— Lindsey Snell (@LindseySnell) May 28, 2023
Saudi Arabia — Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended sincere congratulations and best wishes to President Erdogan.
Brazil — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wished Erdogan a “good term with a lot of work” for the Turkish people. Lula wrote on Twitter that Erdogan can “count on Brazil’s partnership in global cooperation for peace, in the fight against poverty and for the development of the world”.
Pakistan — Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a tweet that Erdogan’s re-election was a “historic” one. He described Erdogan as one of the few leaders who are “a pillar of strength for the oppressed Muslims and a fervent voice for their inalienable rights”.
Turkish expats in Pakistan rejoice after President Erdogan's runoff win pic.twitter.com/wHYOS1ABTz
— ANADOLU AGENCY (@anadoluagency) May 29, 2023
United Nations — UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has congratulated Erdogan on his reelection as president. “He looks forward to further strengthening the cooperation between Türkiye and the United Nations,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Erdogan’s victory was evidence that the Turkish people appreciated his “selfless work” and independent foreign policy. “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 said, according to the Kremlin.
Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Erdogan on his victory and said he hoped for a “strengthening of the strategic partnership for the benefit of our countries, as well as the strengthening of cooperation for the security and stability of Europe”.
European Union — EU Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated Erdogan. “Congratulations @RTErdogan for your reelection as President of Türkiye. I look forward to working with you again to deepen EU-TR relations in the years to come,” Michel said.
Von der Leyen said that she looked forward to continuing building the strategic EU-Türkiye relationship.
NATO — NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also took to Twitter to congratulate Erdogan on his election victory. “Congratulations President (Erdogan) on your re-election. I look forward to continuing our work together and preparing for the NATO summit in July,” he tweeted.
Other countries and regions that extended congratulations to Erdogan include Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Hungary, Sweden, Libya, Malta, Palestine, Sudan, Serbia, UAE and Venezuela.