Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses supporters during his balcony speech in Ankara, Turkiye, after bagging an election victory. [Picture: Haber Lutfen/YouTube]
Reelected Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has outlined his priorities for the incoming administration. The incumbent celebrated victory Sunday after defeating the opposition candidate, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, in a runoff.
Turkiye’s supreme election authority announced Erdogan had won 52.14% of the votes, compared to Kılıçdaroğlu’s 47.86% There was a gap of around two million, it said.
Addressing a large throng gathered outside the presidential palace in Ankara, Erdogan said the winner of the election was Turkiye and its democracy. This was the ‘balcony speech’ he traditionally gave from his personal residence after election victories.
He promised to build the ‘century of Turkiye’ – a reference to the current year being the 100-year anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.
“We walked this road together. We walked day and night, and you gave this duty to us again. God willing, we will continue to build and rejuvenate the ‘century of Turkey’ together.”
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Priorities
In the nighttime address to supporters, the reelected president outlines his incoming administration’s top priorities. Among these, earthquake relief and reducing inflation.
“The most urgent issue of the coming days is to eliminate the problems arising from the price increases caused by inflation and to compensate for welfare losses,” said Erdogan, adding, “If we do it, we will do it. The interest rate is 8.5 … Inflation will also come down. You will see.”
Promising concerted effort towards achieving results after the election, he added that rebuilding regions destroyed by earthquakes in February was also a priority.
“Our hearts and hands will continue to be on the earthquake region,” said Erdogan.
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Congratulations
Meanwhile, a string of congratulations streamed in for Erdogan after he was declared victor.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wished Erdogan a “good term with a lot of work” for the Turkish people. In a tweet, he said his Turkish counterpart could “count on Brazil’s partnership in global cooperation for peace, in the fight against poverty and for the development of the world”.
From Paris, French President Emmanel Macron tweeted, “France and Turkey have huge challenges to face together. Return of peace to Europe, future of our Euro-Atlantic Alliance, Mediterranean Sea. With President Erdogan, whom I congratulate on his re-election, we will continue to move forward”.
From Washington, Joe Biden wrote that he looked forward to “continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges”.
Erdogan’s victory at the polls means he will serve Turkiye for the next five years. He first assumed office in 2014, after more than a decade as the country’s prime minister between 2003 and 2014.
