JUST IN: Turkey's election will go to a runoff as officials confirm both President Erdogan and his main rival fell short of 50% in the first round.
Neither candidate achieved the required 50% to take the presidency outright, but Kilicdaroglu now faces a tough battle to win the second round after Erdogan performed better than some opinion polls had suggested. The results for both frontrunners remained just below the threshold 50% mark after 100% of ballot boxes were opened, according to Turkey’s Supreme Election Council.
His decision to maintain close relations with Russia amid the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine has also caused friction with NATO allies, after he blocked requests for Finland and Sweden’s accession to the transatlantic military alliance. He campaigned on a manifesto championing the stability of his long rule, independent foreign policy and lowering the retirement age.
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