Erdogan wins Turkey's election

By Joshua Berlinger, Nadeen Ebrahim and Tamara Qiblawi, CNN

Updated 8:05 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023
30 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
6:59 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023

Our live coverage of Turkey's election has ended. Read the latest here.

6:58 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023

"Muslims should rejoice." Erdogan supporters celebrate the president’s re-election in Istanbul

From CNN’s Zeena Saifi and Isil Sariyuce in Istanbul

Denel Anart told CNN Erdogan was "his everything" and that she would die for him.
Denel Anart told CNN Erdogan was "his everything" and that she would die for him. Lorenz Huber/CNN

It is past 1 a.m. in Turkey and jubilant crowds are still celebrating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s victory outside of his ruling party’s Istanbul headquarters.

The sky was streaked with fireworks as the air filled with chants and music.

When Erdogan started to deliver his speech from the presidential palace balcony in Ankara, supporters in Istanbul gathered to watch him on a large screen.

“I love him so much. I hope God will not take him from us. I would die for him,” said Denel Anart. “I hope he lives forever.”
“He is my father, grandfather, uncle. He is my everything.”

Yunus and Merve Gun thought about the future of their child in deciding whom to vote for.
Yunus and Merve Gun thought about the future of their child in deciding whom to vote for. Lorenz Huber/CNN

Yunus Gun, 23, said he was confident Erdogan would overcome the country’s string of financial and political woes.

“We thought the future of our kid while we were voting … We are aware that purchasing power is low at the moment but I’m sure the circumstances will improve God willing.”

His wife, Merve, said she was soaking up the moment. “What needed to happen, happened. We are living that the moment," she said.

Sehat Pak believes Muslims should rejoice following Erdogan's reelection win.
Sehat Pak believes Muslims should rejoice following Erdogan's reelection win. Lorenz Huber/CNN

Others struck a more religious note.

“Muslims should rejoice. The whole world will know Muslims more,” said 33-year-old Sehat Pak. “The Islamic world should rejoice.”
6:04 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023

Erdogan uses his speech to call for unity, but also chastises opponent

From Yusuf Gezer in Istanbul

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on May 28.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on May 28. Umit Bektas/Reuters

Speaking to throngs of thousands of his supporters outside the presidential palace, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrated his election to a third term as president by declaring "it is our democracy who won this election."

"We are not the only winners, the winner is Turkey. The winner is our nation with all its segments, our democracy is the winner," he said.
“Now is the time to put aside all the debates and conflicts regarding the election period and unite around our national goals and dreams. We make this call with all our heart.”

Erdogan followed his calls for unity by seemingly poking fun at the opposition CHP party for an electoral move that effectively gave members of allied political parties seats in parliament. During the campaign, Erdogan and his AKP party repeatedly criticized Kilicdaroglu as an inept negotiator.

Inflation: Erdogan said the most urgent topic his government faces is "eliminating the problems caused by price increases caused by inflation and compensating for welfare losses."

Earthquake recovery: Erdogan said that with the election over, it is time to "allocate all our time and energy to working and serving."

"Healing the wounds of the earthquake and resurrecting our destroyed cities will continue to be at the top of our priorities," he said.

Refugee return: Erdogan also vowed to resettle 1 million Syrian refugees who had fled their country due to war.

“To date, we have voluntarily returned nearly 600,000 people to safe areas in Syrian territory. With a new resettlement project we are carrying out with Qatar, we will ensure the return of 1 million more people in a few years," Erdogan said.

Erdogan, who has previously dismissed calls for comprehensive deportation, told CNN earlier this month that he would  “encourage” around a million refugees to return to Syria. 

5:11 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023

Sunak and Biden strike similar notes in messages to Erdogan after Turkish president's election

US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak both tweeted congratulatory messages to Recep Tayyip Erdogan after he won Sunday's runoff election.

Biden said he looked forward "to continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges."

Sunak's statement was similar. The British leader said he looked forward, "to continuing the strong collaboration between our countries, from growing trade to tackling security threats as NATO allies."

5:55 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023

Turkey’s Erdogan arrives at presidential palace in Ankara

From CNN's Gul Tuysuz in Istanbul

Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wait for him to make a speech at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on May 28.
Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wait for him to make a speech at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on May 28. Presidential Press Office/Handout/Reuters

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived at the Presidential Palace to address massive crowds of supporters after being elected to his third term in power, according to a statement from the country’s presidency.

Erdogan began the evening in Istanbul and greeted supporters outside his residence there. Before the results were made official, Erdogan appeared to take a victory lap, singing in celebration on top of a campaign bus. Addressing a large crowd of jubilant supporters waving the Turkish flag, he thanked the nation.

He later hopped on a plane for the 45-minute flight from Istanbul to Ankara, the capital.

After he was officially declared the winner, Erdogan tweeted: “With the great Turkey victory … let the century of Turkey begin!”

4:13 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023

More world leaders congratulate Erdogan on his victory

From CNN's Duarte Mendonca, Joseph Ataman, Mariya Knight and Eyad Kourdi

Leaders from around the globe continue to send their congratulations to Erdogan.

Here are some of the latest messages:

  • Brazil: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wished Erdogan "a good mandate, with a lot of work for the best of the Turkish people."
  • Egypt: A spokesperson for Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said the Egyptian president sent a congratulatory message to Erdogan.
  • Sweden: Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted his congratulations and said the two countries' "common security is a future priority." Erdogan has blocked Stockholm’s membership to NATO over accusations that Stockholm is harboring militants from the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Sweden has refused Turkey’s repeated requests to extradite individuals Ankara describes as terrorists, arguing that the issue can only be decided by Swedish courts.
  • Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted his well-wishes to Erdogan and "we count on the further strengthening of the strategic partnership for the benefit of our countries, as well as the strengthening of cooperation for the security and stability of Europe." Erdogan has been an important powerbroker and go-between for Kyiv and Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.
4:03 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023

Erdogan wins a third term as president with about 52% of the vote

President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters in Istanbul on May 28.
President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters in Istanbul on May 28. Murad Sezer/Reuters

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will extend his 20 years at the top of Turkey's political landscape after winning the country's presidential runoff election on Sunday.

Erdogan received 27,513,587 votes, or 52.14% of the votes cast, according to figures released by the country's Supreme Election Council, beating challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu who had 25,260,109 votes, or 47.86%.

3:41 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023

Breaking news: Erdogan declared winner of Turkey's runoff election

Turkey's Supreme Election Council has declared President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the winner of Turkey's presidential runoff election on Sunday.

3:23 p.m. ET, May 28, 2023

Erdogan rival Kilicdaroglu vows to continue struggle until there is “real democracy”

From Yusuf Gezer in Istanbul

Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu delivers a speech at the CHP headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, on May 28.
Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu delivers a speech at the CHP headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, on May 28. Burak Kara/Getty Images

Presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu said he would continue to fight for “real democracy” in Turkey in a speech from his party headquarters in Ankara.

In this election, the will of the people to change an authoritarian government became clear despite all the pressures," Kilicdaroglu said.

Although the address had echoes of a concession speech, Kilicdaroglu did not outright admit defeat. However, he said what “truly makes me sad is the hard days ahead for our country."

Kilicdaroglu also referenced allegations that Erdogan galvanized his supporters by hurling unfounded claims at his opponents. Erdogan has accused Kilicdaroglu of colluding with Kurdish terror groups and repeatedly referred to the opposition leader — a member of the liberal Muslim Alevi minority — as a not-good-enough Muslim.

“This was the most unfair election period in our history … We did not bow down to the climate of fear,” Kilicdaroglu said.