2023-05-14 05:17:15
All polling stations in Türkiye are now open, reports our correspondent in Istanbul, Anne Andlauer. This represents just over 192,000 offices, to which 60.7 million voters are called; the Turks abroad, having already voted.
Turkish citizens have traditionally turned out in droves to vote, with turnouts over 80%. Given the importance of what is at stake – that is to say, essentially, the maintenance in power or the departure of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after 20 years of reign – we expect a strong mobilization of voters . Among Turks abroad, in any case, turnout reached 54% this year, four points more than in the previous elections in 2018.
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A vote under high security
After a particularly tense, even violent campaign, the day begins calmly. The Ministry of the Interior has mobilized nearly 600,000 police, gendarmes and other personnel responsible for guaranteeing the security of the ballot.
The opposition, which says it has no confidence in the electoral authorities, has also taken precautions to ensure the regularity of the results. The alliance which supports Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, the main rival of Tayyip Erdogan, claims to be able to count on more than half a million assessors and observers in the polling stations.
But fraud is a fear raised by both sides. The Minister of the Interior even mentioned a ” coup attempt from the Western-backed opposition. And again this Saturday, at one of his last campaign rallies, Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked his supporters to ” monitor the ballot box ».
Closing of the offices is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. UT)
>> To read also: The Turkish opposition wants to believe in a victory for Kemal Kiliçdaroglu
On one side as on the other, the supporters of the candidates affirm that victory is promised to them, and as of this evening, relates Guilhem Delteil, RFI’s special correspondent in Istanbul. Their forecasts agree on one point: in their eyes, there will be no need for a second round. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kemal Kiliçdaroglu are not, however, alone in the running: there is a third candidate. But the campaign turned into a duel.
And between the two men, the tone was sharp. Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses his opponent of being a “terrorist”, of having links to the failed coup of 2016. When Kemal Kiliçdaroglu denounces Russian interference in favor of his adversary and that his party, the CHP, warns against the risk of fraud, particularly in the areas affected by the earthquakes of February 6, casting doubt on the updating of the electoral lists.
♦ Reportage
The choice of the opposition candidate was not easy, but Kemal Kiliçdaroglu succeeded in bringing together the various components of this opposition, reports our special correspondent in Istanbul, Guilhem Delteil, with Hasan Dizman.
Now we can see the polls. The Table des six chose it, so it’s the best. And the results of the election will show us that we were right…
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