CHP Offers Hope For Democracy, Erdogan Falls Below 50%

Nation Alliance Presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu made a statement on May 15, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey votes for its 13th President, who will serve for five years, and 28th Term of Parliament. (UGUR YILDIRIM/GETTY IMAGES)

Unofficial results show President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan raised 49.42%, while the percentage of ballot boxes opened was 99.38%, based on AJLabs election chart. Compared with the previous election in 2018, Erdogran voters fell below 50%.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledges supporters at AK Party headquarters on May 15, 2023 in Ankara, Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faced his biggest electoral test as the country voted in the general election. Erdogan has been in power for more than two decades — first as prime minister, then as president — but his popularity had recently taken a hit due to Turkey’s ongoing economic crisis and his government’s response to a series of devastating earthquakes. Meanwhile, the political opposition united around one candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. (BURAK KARA/GETTY IMAGES)