Celebrations as Erdogan wins Turkey's run-off election
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Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared victory in his country’s presidential election, extending his rule into a third decade.
In his first comments since the polls closed on Sunday, Erdogan spoke to supporters on a campaign bus outside his home in Istanbul.
“I thank each member of our nation for entrusting me with the responsibility to govern this country once again for the upcoming five years,” said Erdogan, the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
He ridiculed his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, for his loss, saying “bye bye bye, Kemal,” as supporters booed.
“The only winner today is Turkey,” Erdogan said, after unofficial results gave him the win in the second round of voting.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters in Istanbul. [Murad Sezer/Reuters]Supporters of re-elected President Erdogan celebrate following unofficial election results in Istanbul. [Dilara Senkaya/Reuters]Erdogan’s supporters celebrate at Republic Square in Sivas, Turkey. [Serhat Zafer/Anadolu]AK Party supporters celebrate at July 15 Democracy Square in Bursa, Turkey. [Sergen Sezgin/Anadolu]Supporters of the AK Party celebrate at July 15 Democracy Square in Rize, Turkey. [Muhittin Sandıkçı/Anadolu]Erdogan advocates celebrate at the AK Party offices in Istanbul. [Khalil Hamra/AP Photo]Erdogan, who has been at Turkey’s helm for 20 years, was favoured to win a new five-year term in the second-round run-off, after he finished the first round in the lead. [Murad Sezer/Reuters]An Erdogan supporter holds a Turkish flag while driving by his house in Istanbul. [Francisco Seco/AP Photo]
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