The presidential election held today in Türkiye is showing familiar characteristics for the Tony Blair regime-change era, in elections in which the NATO powers very strongly want a nationalist leader removed, especially if that leader has any working relations with Russia.
International media coverage was virtually uniform in headlining “the election that could unseat Erdogan,” referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; “polls show opposition lead,” referring to Erdogan’s main opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the Republican People’s Party (CHP); etc.
The counted results, with roughly 40% of the vote accounted for, showed Erdogan with 51.7% and Kilicdaroglu at 41.4%; but at that time, Kilicdaroglu said on Twitter, “We’re ahead"; and his CHP party said on Twitter, “We are currently in the lead.”
Also characteristically, a third candidate in the race was “outperforming” expectations, with just over 5% of the vote. This was Sinan Ogan, a nationalist academic who had left the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) , allied with Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), and thus was likely taking votes from Erdogan.
With polling places closing at 5 p.m. in Turkiye, later with 100% of votes counted, Anadolu Agency showed Erdogan was still leading by about 5% but had dropped below 50% for the first time, indicating a run-off with Kilicdaroglu will be held. Voter turnout was reported to be at 88%. At that time, according to Anadolu Agency, with the vote inside Turkiye, Erdogan had 49.24%; Kemal Kilicdaroglu showed 45.06%; and Sinan Ogan had 5.28%.
