Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may have failed to clinch a first-round victory in Sunday's election but the opposition is aware a run-off is still likely to play out in his favour.
Campaigning took off again on Tuesday, with Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu issuing a renewed call to young voters to head to the polls once more on May 28..
On the Asian side of Istanbul, locals in the CHP stronghold of Kadikoy had differing political views but all agreed the opposition would need to up its game.
“It didn't go how I expected,” said Mehmet Ocan, a restaurant owner who voted for Mr Kilicdaroglu.
“The others vote for Erdogan but they don't understand the situation we are in. The next two weeks won't change anything.
“AKP [Justice and Development Party] voters are from the poorest classes in Turkey and yet they still vote for him.
“You can't explain anything to them – even with their [economic] situation, they're still only thinking about a 'powerful leader'.”
Turkey's five million first-time voters were expected to give a boost to the opposition. Many young people who spoke to The National in Istanbul said they were voting for Mr Kilicdaroglu amid an economic crisis that has left them with little hope for their future.
The CHP leader has renewed outreach to young people, addressing them in a series of tweets on Tuesday while referencing the country's economic turmoil fuelled by the President's stubborn refusal to raise interest rates.
“You don't have enough money for anything,” he said. “Your joy of life was taken away. Whereas youth should be free of worry.
“You won't get your youth back again. We have 12 days to get out of this dark tunnel.”
Another surprise in Sunday's vote was the level of AKP support in areas devastated by the February earthquake, where many had criticised the President's response.
Mr Kilicdaroglu also appealed to them on social media.
“No politics is worth breaking the hearts of those people,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
Researcher Mesut Yegen told The National that the opposition failed to attract strong support in this area but the AKP victory should not be overstated.
The AKP did well, but Sunday's result was its “lowest rate” of support since 2002, he said.
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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
“If you look at details its difficult to say the AKP itself was successful. The alliance [Mr Erdogan] built has happened to be successful,” he said.
“Even there, the opposition could not convince those who suffered in the earthquake that the opposition would do better than Erdogan that they come to power.”
For some voters, Mr Erdogan is still preferable to his rival.
“For me, the election went well,” Volkan Oze said outside his shoe shop.
“The AK party will succeeded and beat Kilicdaroglu” in the second round, he added.
“The opposition said Kilicdaroglu would win but it doesn’t match with reality. I don’t like his personality, I don’t like him as a man and he’s the reason the CHP lost.”
