Sunday's vote is particularly close in Turkey. The two contenders for power, outgoing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his opponent, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, both say they can win. This may require waiting for a second round on May 28, which seems increasingly proven. Indeed, on the evening of an election that saw an unprecedented mobilization of the electorate, the outgoing president claims to be "clearly in the lead", but ready to "respect" a second round if necessary.

This is not quite a victory, but certainly not a defeat for Erdogan, who has led the country for twenty years, who said he was convinced in front of a tide of supporters exulting in the middle of the night "to serve his country for another five years". The same confidence was displayed by his rival, who promised his camp that he would "absolutely win in the second round", arguing "the need for change in society". The turnout, apparently close to 90%, has not been officially communicated.

If not Ogan future kingmaker?

This is the first time that the head of state, 69, would be forced to stand a second time before the electorate because he did not win 50% of the vote. Facing him the Social Democrat Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, a 74-year-old former senior civil servant who led an unprecedented coalition of six opposition parties, was regularly given the lead by pollsters, even by a short lead. But according to the results of 95% of the ballots, he totaled just 45% of the vote at 03:30 on Monday according to the official Anadolu Agency.

The third candidate, Sinon Ogan, a dissident from the nationalist MHP party credited with about 5% of the vote, is preparing to negotiate them without specifying with whom. Meanwhile, in the evening, the camps of two main candidates fought a battle of numbers, urging their respective observers to remain at the counting sites "until the end".

The 64 million voters also had to choose the 600 deputies who will sit in the unicameral parliament in Ankara. Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed "half" for his camp.

  • World
  • Turkey
  • Video
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Elections