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Turkey election: Erdogan leads Ince in early results | Turkey election: Erdogan leads Ince in early results |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Turkey's long-standing leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains ahead in presidential elections with 91% of votes counted, state media report. | |
Mr Erdogan has 53%, while his closest rival, Muharrem Ince, is on 30%. | |
If Mr Erdogan is confirmed with more than 50% of the final vote, he will be declared the winner and avoid the need for a second round of voting. | |
Opposition parties have raised concerns about vote-rigging and electoral fraud. | |
As well as the presidency, voters are also choosing members of parliament. Mr Erdogan's party is ahead in that poll. | As well as the presidency, voters are also choosing members of parliament. Mr Erdogan's party is ahead in that poll. |
With 88% of the votes for parliament counted, the president's AK Party leads with 43% of the votes, the state news agency Anadolu reports. The main opposition CHP is on 22%. | |
Crucially, the pro-Kurdish HDP looks set to reach the 10% threshold and enter parliament. This may make it harder for Mr Erdogan's party and its ally to reach a majority, though currently they are on course to do so. | |
Voter turnout is high at almost 87%, the state broadcaster says. | Voter turnout is high at almost 87%, the state broadcaster says. |
Initial results were thought likely to favour the AK Party, so Mr Erdogan's lead is expected to decrease as more votes are counted. | Initial results were thought likely to favour the AK Party, so Mr Erdogan's lead is expected to decrease as more votes are counted. |
His opponent accused the state news agency of being manipulative by releasing results from pro-Erdogan areas first. | His opponent accused the state news agency of being manipulative by releasing results from pro-Erdogan areas first. |
And, as the BBC's Selin Girit points out, there is a substantial difference between Mr Erdogan's lead as reported by Anadolu and other monitors: | And, as the BBC's Selin Girit points out, there is a substantial difference between Mr Erdogan's lead as reported by Anadolu and other monitors: |
Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in the aftermath of a failed coup in July 2016. | Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in the aftermath of a failed coup in July 2016. |
Who is standing for president? | |
These elections were originally scheduled for November 2019 but were brought forward by Mr Erdogan. | These elections were originally scheduled for November 2019 but were brought forward by Mr Erdogan. |
He is seeking a second term as president, and would govern under a new constitution which grants the president new powers. | He is seeking a second term as president, and would govern under a new constitution which grants the president new powers. |
Mr Erdogan was prime minister for 11 years before becoming president in 2014. | Mr Erdogan was prime minister for 11 years before becoming president in 2014. |
Should he win, Mr Ince has promised to push back what he characterised as a slide into authoritarian rule under Mr Erdogan. | |
But his opponent accused the former physics teacher of not having the skills to lead. | But his opponent accused the former physics teacher of not having the skills to lead. |
Around 60 million Turks were eligible to take part in Sunday's dual polls. | Around 60 million Turks were eligible to take part in Sunday's dual polls. |
As well as Mr Erdogan and Mr Ince, there are four candidates on the ballot. | As well as Mr Erdogan and Mr Ince, there are four candidates on the ballot. |
If no one candidate crosses the 50% threshold in an outright win, the top two will face off in a second-round vote on 8 July. | |
What have been the main election issues? | What have been the main election issues? |
The biggest is the economy. The Turkish lira has tanked and inflation stands at around 11% - so ordinary people are feeling the squeeze. | The biggest is the economy. The Turkish lira has tanked and inflation stands at around 11% - so ordinary people are feeling the squeeze. |
Terrorism is another vexed issue, as Turkey faces attacks from Kurdish militants and the jihadists of the Islamic State group. | Terrorism is another vexed issue, as Turkey faces attacks from Kurdish militants and the jihadists of the Islamic State group. |
However, correspondents say the country tends to vote along its big divides: one between Kurds and nationalists, and another between religious and secular people. | However, correspondents say the country tends to vote along its big divides: one between Kurds and nationalists, and another between religious and secular people. |
Is the vote fair? | Is the vote fair? |
There was high security at polling stations. Ahead of the vote, concerns were raised about potential voter intimidation and electoral fraud. | |
Turkey's election commission has already said it will investigate alleged irregularities in Urfa province, on the southern border with Syria. | Turkey's election commission has already said it will investigate alleged irregularities in Urfa province, on the southern border with Syria. |
Rights activists also say the press is not free to report on all sides. | Rights activists also say the press is not free to report on all sides. |
Under Mr Erdogan's rule, the country has become the world's biggest jailer of journalists, according to monitoring groups. | Under Mr Erdogan's rule, the country has become the world's biggest jailer of journalists, according to monitoring groups. |
What effect will the new constitution have? | What effect will the new constitution have? |
While the other candidates have rejected the changes, endorsed in endorsed in a tight referendum last year by 51% of voters, Mr Erdogan would start his second term in a turbo-charged version of the job. | While the other candidates have rejected the changes, endorsed in endorsed in a tight referendum last year by 51% of voters, Mr Erdogan would start his second term in a turbo-charged version of the job. |
The job of prime minister would be scrapped and the president would gain new powers including the ability to directly appoint senior officials. | The job of prime minister would be scrapped and the president would gain new powers including the ability to directly appoint senior officials. |