Sunday, November 24, 2024
HomeWorldTurkey election: Rivals both claim to have a lead as counting in...

Turkey election: Rivals both claim to have a lead as counting in tense race continues | World News


Turkey’s election rivals are both claiming to have the lead with counting under way in the poll.

Parties of both current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and main opposition challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu both say they have the edge, with news agencies in the country offering competing results.

Both sides dismissed the other’s count, with no official result announced.

Mr Erdogan, 69, is seeking a third consecutive term as president but faces his toughest ever challenge.

Image:
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking a third term as president

Despite both sides claiming to have a lead, sources in both camps told the Reuters news agency that they may not clear the 50% threshold needed to win outright.

If no presidential candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, a run-off election will be held on 28 May.

Image:
Some polls on Friday had given challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu a slight lead

Read more:
Erdogan seeks to fire up his supporters
The man who wants to end the Erdogan era

Opinion polls before the election had given Mr Kilicdaroglu, who heads a six-party alliance, a slight lead, and two polls on Friday even showed him above the 50% threshold. However, most had suggested a tight margin.

Turkey’s voters are also electing parliamentarians to their 600-seat assembly on Sunday.



This story originally appeared on Skynews

RELATED ARTICLES
- Advertisment -

Most Popular

Recent Comments