The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has secured victory in Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections. With nearly all of the votes counted, AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won a majority of the votes in the presidential contest, and the party has secured a majority in parliament.
The AKP’s victory was expected, as it had won the last two elections in 2011 and 2014. Erdogan has been in power since 2003.
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) made gains in the parliamentary election, winning around 22% of the vote. In the presidential race, the CHP’s Muharrem Ince came a distant second, with around 31% of the vote.
The result means that Erdogan will be able to move forward with his plans to move Turkey towards a more authoritarian regime. The president will now be able to appoint ministers and judges without parliament’s approval, and will be able to remain in power until 2029.
Despite the election result, there have been signs of discontent in Turkey. Opponents of the AKP have accused the government of electoral fraud, and there have been protests in several cities.
