May 14, 2023 Turkey election news

By Eliza Mackintosh, Nadeen Ebrahim, Tamara Qiblawi and Tara Subramaniam, CNN

Updated 11:06 PM ET, Sun May 14, 2023

What we covered here

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing the biggest challenge yet in his two decades in power after millions voted in a landmark election Sunday, with preliminary results indicating he may be forced into a runoff.
State-run Anadolu news agency's latest figures show Erdogan's lead under 50% and his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, over 44%. If neither wins a majority, they will go to a second vote — which would be a first for Erdogan.
Opposition leaders have rejected Anadolu's figures, saying they are misleading, and Kilicdaroglu, chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), has insisted he is ahead in the polls.
The presidential and parliamentary elections took place three months after an earthquake killed more than 50,000 people in southern Turkey. They also come amid a serious economic crisis and what analysts say is democratic erosion under Erdogan’s government.

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7:35 p.m. ET, May 14, 2023

Erdogan suggests his lead will increase as potential runoff looms

From CNN's Yusuf Gezer

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that his lead in the polls will "increase even more" as the final votes are tallied.

“We are already ahead of our closest competitor by 2.6 million votes. I believe that this difference will increase even more with the final results," he told supporters at AK Party headquarters in Ankara.

Erdogan is facing the biggest challenge yet in his two decades in power after millions voted in a landmark election Sunday, with preliminary results indicating he may be forced into a runoff.

State-run Anadolu news agency's latest figures show Erdogan's lead at 49.52% and his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, at 44.76%, with 95% of the vote counted. If neither wins a majority, they will go to a second vote — which would be a first for Erdogan.

Erdogan said early Monday they don't know yet "if the presidential election is over in the first round" but said he remained confident about avoiding a runoff.

“We believe we will finish this round with over 50% of the votes,” he said.

8:52 p.m. ET, May 14, 2023

Erdogan tells supporters "exact results are not clear yet but we are ahead"

From CNN's Yusuf Gezer

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a speech at the AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, early May 15. Ali Unal/AP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed early Monday to be leading the vote "by a wide margin" even as preliminary results indicated he may be forced into a runoff.

“Our country has completed another feast of democracy with the 14th of May elections. Although the exact results are not clear yet, we are ahead,” Erdogan told supporters at AK Party headquarters in Ankara.
"We know that we are leading by a wide margin, but we don't know officially what the exact result is because we haven't received it yet," Erdogan added. "And we are waiting for the embodiment of the national will."

Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wave flags outside the AK Party headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, on May 15. Umit Bektas/Reuters

7:10 p.m. ET, May 14, 2023

Third presidential candidate casts doubt over overseas vote

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam in Atlanta and Eliza Mackintosh in London

The third presidential candidate, Sinan Ogan, an ultra-nationalist allied with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, took to Twitter on Sunday night to cast doubt over overseas votes and warn the election council to prevent "manipulation."

Ogan, who according to preliminary results currently has about 5% of the vote, could be a kingmaker if the election goes to a runoff.

"We have heard that some manipulations were carried out in the overseas vote-counting processes. Vote counting is not done in a healthy environment. I warn the YSK [Supreme Election Council]. Take the necessary measures immediately and ensure that the vote-counting processes are carried out quickly. In addition, we will not allow a fait accompli with the manipulation of foreign votes. Do not stress the environment. This is up to the second round," he said.

7:04 p.m. ET, May 14, 2023

Preliminary results indicate Erdogan may be forced into runoff

From CNN's Yusuf Gezer in Istanbul

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, Turkey, on March 29. Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images/FILE

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is fighting for his political survival, as preliminary results indicate he may be forced into a runoff.

The third presidential candidate, Sinan Ogan, an ultra-nationalist allied with Erdogan, currently has 5.28% of the vote, according to Anadolu. This could make him a potential kingmaker in the runoff.

6:56 p.m. ET, May 14, 2023

87% of vote counted, election council says

From CNN's Yusuf Gezer in Istanbul

The head of Turkey's Supreme Election Council has just announced 87.13% of the votes have been counted, adding that there have been delays tallying the votes cast abroad.

As of now, our rate of ballot boxes opened at home is 89.97%, and 30.8% abroad. The overall rate of ballot boxes opened is 87.13%," Ahmet Yener said.

"I would also like to clarify the criticism which has been voiced in the public that foreign votes are counted late. Considering the increase in the number of voters who cast their votes abroad in 2023, according to 2018 data, and the number of parties participating in the 2018 election is 8, and 24 in 2023, it is seen that the delay in the counting of foreign votes is normal. There is no problem in entering the votes in the district election boards.”

6:37 p.m. ET, May 14, 2023

Crowds outside Ankara AK Party headquarters await Erdogan

From CNN's Eliza Mackintosh in London

President Recep Tayyip ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has tweeted a video showing scenes of crowds outside their headquarters in Turkey's capital Ankara with the caption: "The balcony is ready. The nation is waiting for its leader."

Erdogan is expected to make a speech there shortly.

6:18 p.m. ET, May 14, 2023

Kilicdaroglu claims Erdogan's camp is demanding recounts and delaying results in opposition strongholds

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam in Atlanta and Isil Sariyuce in Istanbul

Opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party of demanding recounts and delaying results in opposition strongholds, including in Ankara and Istanbul.

"My dear nation, they are blocking the system with repeated objections at ballots where we have higher votes. For example, there are persistent objections at 300 ballots in Ankara and 783 ballots in Istanbul. There is a ballot with six, and another with 11 objections," he told reporters in a statement at his party headquarters in Ankara.

What you are blocking now is the willpower of Turkey."

Kilicdaroglu called on Erdogan to stop dealing in "perception management," adding that the opposition will not allow the vote to be a "fait accompli."

"This is a serious matter. Let the votes come in and the result to be known as soon as possible. The country can no longer tolerate uncertainty. Do not be afraid of the nation’s will," he said.

He also urged election officials to act responsibly, and not let the process be stalled.

"I repeat: Do not block this nation’s will. I would like to call on the democracy workers in the field. Do not leave the ballots and election councils. We are here until every vote has been counted," he said.

5:59 p.m. ET, May 14, 2023

Mayor of Ankara says he expects Kilicdaroglu to finish ahead of Erdogan

From CNN's Yusuf Gezer in Istanbul and Hande Atay Alam in Atlanta

From left, Mansur Yavas, Mayor of Ankara, and Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul, hold a press conference at the Republican People's Party (CHP) headquarters in Ankara, Turkey, on May 14. Evrim Aydin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The opposition mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, has said he expects Kemal Kilicdaroglu to finish ahead of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"According to our data, the ratio of officially signed ballot reports is at 69.67%. Proportionally, Kemal Kilicdaroglu's vote is 47.7% and Recep Tayyip Erdogan's vote is at 45.8%," Yavas, a senior member of Kilicdaroglu's opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), told a news conference in the party headquarters in Ankara. "We will wait for the result, it is our duty to seek justice for even one vote."

It is highly likely that Mr. Kilicdaroglu will finish this round first, and there is a high probability of qualifying for the second round," he added.

Yavas will serve as vice president if Kilicdaroglu's six-party Nation Alliance wins.

Turkey's electoral council, which will announce the final vote, has said that 71.64% of ballots have been counted in the country, and 18.67% from those who voted abroad. The council's chairman, Ahmet Yener, said there was "no disruption or delay at the moment."

6:21 p.m. ET, May 14, 2023

Music stops and mood darkens at AK Party headquarters

From CNN's Tamara Qiblawi and Gul Tuysuz in Istanbul

The music came to an abrupt halt at a rally outside the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters in Istanbul on Sunday evening, as soon as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's tally slipped below the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff.

AK Party supporters pointed at the screen displaying the preliminary results reported by state-run Anadolu news agency. A hushed silence fell over the crowd that just hours earlier was jubilant over early reports that showed Erdogan with a comfortable lead.

We’re not used to this. We’re used to winning the first round,” said Umran Ozdwmie, a 38-year-old who works in cleaning services. “Tomorrow morning when I wake up I wanna see Erdogan still leading us.”

Still the mood was defiant. "We’re come back with even more strength in the second round," said Nuray Ekici, a 31-year-old teacher. "We will never abandon him."

Another man, Ismail Boyaci, 53, said, "Our mood may have changed but Erdogan’s leadership won’t change. We will continue to stand upright."