Opposition faces uphill battle as Turkey confirms run-off presidential vote

Despite record turnout, voters will return to polls as there was no clear victory

Turkey's most critical election yet ended in uncertainty as neither incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu won more than 50 per cent of votes by Monday.

A final result rests on a second run-off, on May 28, the first in Turkey's history, despite turnout reaching a record high of 88.8 per cent on Sunday.

With exit polling banned in Turkey, the race remained on a knife edge for most of the evening.

Both candidates were confident of victory, but as votes arrived, Mr Erdogan's edge slimmed. By 11pm, state media predicted he had fallen short of the threshold for outright victory.

On Monday morning, the country's supreme election board said Mr Erdogan had won 49.4 per cent of the vote, with 99 per cent of domestic ballot boxes opened and more than 86 per cent of overseas ballot boxes counted.

It later confirmed that a second-run off would take place on May 28.

While both were certain of a first-round victory, Mr Erdogan and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Mr Kilicdaroglu have accepted the uncertainty, with the President saying a second round is “welcome” if it is the will of the people.

“We will definitely, definitely win this election in the second round … and bring democracy,” said Mr Kilicdaroglu.

People walk under posters showing Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, in Ankara. The country is holding its first presidential run-off election after neither candidate earned more than 50 per cent of the vote in the May 14 election. Getty

A couple walk under a poster of Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, the day after the general election, in Ankara. EPA

People sit on a bench by posters showing Mr Kilicdaroglu in Ankara. Getty

The bustling Taksim area of Istanbul. Turkey will hold its first presidential run-off election after neither candidate earned more than 50 per cent of the vote this week. Getty

People eat ice cream in Istanbul as the country prepares for an election run-off later this month. Getty

People stand in front of the Guven Monument in Ankara. Getty

The second round of voting will be held on May 28. Getty

A passenger reads a newspaper on a ferry across the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Bloomberg

Politics dominates the headlines in Istanbul on the day after the presidential elections. AP

A billboard featuring presidential candidate Mr Kilicdaroglu in Istanbul. AP

A run-off for the presidency was expected to lead to volatility for the Turkish lira. AP

Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gather at the AK Party's headquarters in Istanbul on election night. Getty

Mr Erdogan, accompanied by his wife Emine, addresses supporters in Ankara. Photo: Turkish Presidential Press Office

Election officials count ballots in Diyarbakir after polls closed in Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections. AFP

Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, speaks to the media in Ankara. EPA

Mr Erdogan's supporters wave flags outside the AK Party's headquarters in Ankara. Reuters

Mr Erdogan casts his vote in Istanbul on Sunday. Getty

Mr Kilicdaroglu votes in Ankara. Getty

People wait for Mr Erdogan outside a polling station in Istanbul. Reuters

A man holds a ballot at a polling station in Hatay. Reuters

A ballot paper featuring candidates for Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections. Reuters

Voting began in Turkey's presidential election on Sunday morning. Reuters

A voter casts a ballot at a polling station in Hatay. Reuters

Hatay is one of the Turkish regions that were worst-affected by February's earthquake. Reuters

Voters take a closer look at the candidates on the ballot, in Ankara. Getty

A ballot paper with Mr Erdogan, Muharrem Ince, Mr Kilicdaroglu and Sinan Ogan. Getty

Voters queue outside a polling station in Istanbul. Reuters

Bags containing blank ballots are stored at a temporary polling station in the courtyard of a quake-damaged school in Hatay. Reuters

An election worker prepares a temporary polling station in Hatay. Reuters

How the next few weeks will unfold is unclear. More than three million people voted from abroad at overseas diplomatic missions and airport customs.

They will now have to vote again, as will the more than 60 million eligible domestic voters — as long as voter apathy does not take hold.

One clear result emerging from Sunday's vote is the power yielded by nationalist presidential candidate Sinan Ogan, who managed to secure more than 5 per cent of the vote.

Mr Ogan said he would not back the opposition unless Mr Kilicdaroglu provides assurances that he would not give concessions to Kurdish parties, who have backed the CHP leader against Mr Erdogan.

“We will consult with our voter base for our decision in the run-off. But we already made clear that the fight against terrorism and sending refugees back are our red lines,” he told Reuters on Monday.

Why did Kilicdaroglu come second?

Analysts have told The National it will be difficult for the opposition to make a strong enough comeback to secure the presidency.

The result has surprised many, including Prof Mesut Yegen, a researcher at the Reform Institute in Istanbul, who said he expected Mr Kilicdaroglu to secure more votes than Mr Erdogan, if not enough for a majority.

“It's rather difficult for Kilicdaroglu to win and Erdogan to lose,” he said, citing a 4.5 per cent margin between the two rivals and the likelihood of most votes for Sinan Ogan going to the incumbent leader on May 28.

Reasons for Mr Kilicdaroglu's failure to clinch a victory are varied, he said, including the AKP's efforts to link the opposition to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), designated a terror group in Turkey.

“Erdogan has been quite successful in convincing Turkish voters, or the majority of them, that there is a link between the PKK and Kilicdaroglu, While we were expecting the first topic on the agenda would be the economy and inflation rates, Erdogan managed to change the agenda,” he told The National.

“Many people bought this idea that integrity of the state is under threat.”

Secondly, he said, was the opposition's diverse six-party alliance, which, although it endorsed Mr Kilicdaroglu as its presidential candidate, is composed of a number of parties with varying political views, some of which are significantly more right-wing than the CHP.

“Erdogan is a strong candidate, and the opposition had seven or eight figures, including for vice-president. Again, he seems to have persuaded voters that there would be a crisis and governance problems if the opposition won.”

Despite the result, EU leaders have praised Turkey for the record turnout.

“It's a very clear sign that the Turkish people are committed to exercising their democratic rights to go and vote and that they value the democratic institutions,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Mr Erdogan has been building up to this election for years, with both he and his rival touring the country, including earthquake-hit areas, to drum up votes.

Parliamentary vote

With only two weeks until voters return to the polls, they may focus on the urban centres of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir — often decisive in calling the election — to turn the tide in their favour.

More decisive, however, was the parliamentary vote which also took place on Sunday.

Media affiliated with the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) proclaimed victory for Mr Erdogan in the parliament, which may give him an edge entering the second round of voting.

Galip Dalay, an associate fellow at Chatham House international affairs think tank, said Mr Erdogan's ruling alliance would go into the second round “with numeric and psychological advantages”.

“During the campaign period ahead of the run-off, Mr Erdogan is likely to emphasise stability as he already retains the majority in the parliament,” Mr Dalay told AFP.