Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan waves to supporters as he claims victory in the Turkish presidential election runoff outside the presidents residence in kisikli on May 28, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection Sunday, according to unofficial results, in a victory that extends his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade as the country reels from high inflation and the aftermath of an earthquake that leveled entire cities.A third term gives Erdogan an even stronger hand domestically and internationally, and the election results will have implications far beyond Ankara.
Turkey stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and it plays a key role in NATO.With nearly 99% of ballot boxes opened, results from competing news agencies showed Erdogan with 52% of the vote, compared with 48% for his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.In his first comments since the polls closed, Erdogan thanked the nation for entrusting him with the presidency for five more years."We hope to be worthy of your trust, as we have been for 21 years," he told supporters on a campaign bus outside his home in Istanbul.He ridiculed his challenger for his loss, saying "bye bye bye, Kemal," as supporters booed."The only winner today is Turkey," Erdogan said, promising to work hard for Turkey's second century.