By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL- Sunday, the second runoff elections in Türkiye brought out massive crowds in Istanbul and Ankara, with at least 55,000 onlookers in Üsküdar and 300,000 supporters in Ankara to hear Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s victory speeches. As the crowds cheered and raised their hands in solidarity, Erdoğan asked: “Are you ready Ankara? We’re coming towards you.” He thanked all those who came out to vote and said it’s the 85 million people in Türkiye who are the winners in the election. Meanwhile, his rival – CHP Chairman and opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said the election was “the most unfair in years.” Initially, it appeared that Kılıçdaroğlu might overtake Erdogan but only ended up with almost 48% of the vote versus Erdogan’s slightly over 52%.
Erdogan reminded the crowds that he made promises to them that he intends to keep and said the focus must be on target goals. He added that the second round of voting was completed with “great participation,” and that he was grateful to everyone who elected him for another five years. As Erdogan commented: “I will do my best to be just to your trust and confidence and I will do my best to deserve it. Remember what I said, my commitment is until I die, until my grave.” As the crowd chanted “Bye bye Kemal,” Erdogan joined in with them, bidding a farewell to his opposition – Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu whose six-party alliance was tipped to win the election by a number of foreign observers and analysts.
The Turkish leader made it clear that his party, AK Party, is determined to take back seats it lost in the last mayoral elections and said that his team is ready to win in the upcoming elections. He also added: “The will of our nation, the will of our citizens is made of steel,” and he highlighted “We have never compromised on our democracy development and goals.” He further stated that “it is with these achievements that we are beginning the Century of Türkiye.” Erdogan also said that in 2024, his party “will take over Üsküdar and Istanbul in local elections,” and reiterated that “of course, elections come and go, what is important is to achieve the goals of our country.” As he concluded his victory speech, his parting words echoed what the crowds seemed to be feeling: “We have always showed our commitment to this divine journey and we have said we are committed to our great nation.”
