Annisa Essack | kzn@radioislam.org.za
15 May 2023 | 15:30 CAT
3 min read

Photo Credit: Middle East Monitor

Millions of voters headed to the polls in Türkiye yesterday as the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections began. Over 30 political parties and 150 independent parliamentary candidates competed in the elections. Late afternoon saw vote counting start, as the broadcast ban was lifted to disseminate voting information.

Prof Scott Lucas joined Ml Sulaimaan Ravat to discuss the developments of the election.

With more than 97 per cent of the vote counted, the results are down to the wire with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan just below 50 per cent, which Lucas says will lead to a run-off in two weeks, on 28 May 2023.

The two candidates, Erdoğan and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu would go head-to-head in the run-off. Sinan Ogun of the right-wing ATA Alliance could try to play kingmaker, choosing either to endorse one or the other candidates. Erdoğan has been in coalition with the ultra-nationalist party; however, Ogun moved away from the party to run in the election. He may be the kingmaker, but his supporters are likelier to select Erdoğan instead of the main opposition.

Lucas, says that the key issues are that Turkey faces enormous economic issues, and whoever wins will face many challenges at home.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Sulaimaan Ravat here