Erdogan has 49.24% after all ballots in Turkiye processed, Kilicdaroglu has 45% – Reports

Addis Ababa, May 15, 2023 (FBC/Sputnik) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has secured 49.24% of the votes in the presidential election, while his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has obtained 45%, with 100% of ballots cast in Turkiye processed, the state-run TRT Haber broadcaster reported on Monday.

More than 26 million people have voted for Erdogan, over 23.8 million — for Kilicdaroglu, and more than 2.7 million — for Sinan Ogan of the ATA Alliance.

The Supreme Election Council also invalidated more than 1 million out of 53.9 million ballots. The turnout has exceeded 88.8%. Ballots cast abroad are still being processed.

Muharrem Ince, another presidential candidate who was kept on the ballot despite dropping out of the race last week and obtained more than 200,000 votes, has not yet decided whom he will support in a possible runoff, a source in the candidate’s office told Sputnik on Monday.

“At the moment, the evaluation process is underway regarding the candidate that [Ince] will support,” the source said.

The leader of the Memleket party announced the withdrawal of his candidacy three days before the election. The second round of the election, which will take place if no candidate gains 50% of votes, is scheduled for May 28.