Turks vote on Sunday in a presidential runoff that could see Tayyip Erdogan extend his rule into a third decade and intensify Turkey's increasingly authoritarian path, muscular foreign policy and unorthodox economic governance.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the main opposition Republican People's Party speaks during an election rally, ahead of the May 28 presidential runoff vote, in Istanbul, Turkey May 27, 2023.
Kilicdaroglu, 74, is the candidate of a six-party opposition alliance, and leads the Republican People's Party created by Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. His camp has struggled to regain momentum after the shock of trailing Erdogan in the first round. Turkey is the world's largest host of refugees, with some 5 million migrants, of whom 3.3 million are Syrians, according to Interior Ministry data.
A closely-watched survey by pollster Konda for the runoff put support for Erdogan on 52.7% and Kilicdaroglu on 47.3% after distributing undecided voters. The survey was carried out on May 20-21, before Ogan and Ozdag revealed their endorsements.
Turkey's president has pulled out all the stops on the campaign trail as he battles to survive his toughest political test. He commands fierce loyalty from pious Turks who once felt disenfranchised in secular Turkey and his political career has survived the failed coup and corruption scandals.. Human Rights Watch, in its World Report 2022, said Erdogan's government has set back Turkey's human rights record by decades.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Erdogan defies predictions of political demise ahead of Turkey election runoffPresident Tayyip Erdogan has defied forecasts of his political demise in Turkey's elections, rallying voters with a potent mix of religious conservatism and nationalism that looks set to propel his rule into a third decade on Sunday.
Read more »
Turkey's Erdogan urges voters to turn out, rival sees 'last exit'Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan sought to build on his momentum going into Sunday's runoff presidential election, urging Turks to vote as the man aiming to defeat him called on electors to pull their country from 'the dark pit' of his two-decade rule.
Read more »
In Erdogan stronghold, adulation and unease ahead of Turkey runoffThe city of Sivas in central Turkey is a bastion of Erdogan loyalists, but some here describe support for the president as tenuous despite his first-round victory.
Read more »
Turkey's runoff election: Is this the end of the Erdogan era? Here's everything to know about the voteMillions of people in Turkey will take to the polls again on Sunday to vote in a presidential election runoff between the increasingly autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leader of the opposition coalition, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Turkey is in the middle of a major economic crisis, and following two devastating earthquakes earlier this year, a lot is at stake for the country's citizens and their future. If Erdogan wins, he will rule until 2028 — spending over 15 years in Turkey's seat of power.
Read more »
Connecticut woman's leg bitten off in shark attack in Turks and Caicos, police sayA 22-year-old Connecticut woman had her leg bitten off in a shark attack while she and a friend were snorkeling in Turks and Caicos, local police say.
Read more »
U.S. woman loses leg in shark attack snorkeling in Turks and CaicosThe attack left the 22-year-old Connecticut woman in serious condition.
Read more »