Turkey Elections; Twitter Rhetoric of Main Rivals as Vote Counting Nears Completion

As the Turkish presidential elections, which many observers describe as 'perhaps' the beginning of a new political era in Turkey, have concluded and the counting of votes is nearing completion, the two leading rivals have expanded their competition into the virtual space and Twitter. As the counting of votes approaches its end, Kemal Kilicdaroglu tweeted asking election observers not to leave the counting location, also stating: 'The story that started with 60% has now dropped below 50%. My people, I won't sleep tonight.' Recep Tayyip Erdogan also tweeted, criticizing his opponents for announcing early results, similarly asking election observers to keep an eye on the ballot boxes. It is noteworthy that at the time of writing, nearly 85% of the votes have been counted, with Erdogan leading with approximately 50% of the votes, followed closely by Kilicdaroglu, who has about 43%. Earlier reports from Reuters and the Associated Press indicated that Erdogan was ahead of his main rival, Kilicdaroglu, in the initial results of the presidential election on Sunday. According to the Associated Press, Erdogan's votes are around 52% and Kilicdaroglu's initial votes are about 42%; however, as counting continues, the gap between the two may narrow. Kilicdaroglu claims he is leading in the initial vote counts. Voting in the parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey, which began at 8 AM local time, ended at 5 PM, and polling stations were closed. However, those in line were allowed to cast their votes, after which the counting began. No major security incidents or disruptions have been reported at polling centers in Turkey. However, Al Jazeera reported that 'unfortunately, three people - an observer at a polling station and two voters - suffered heart attacks due to the palpable excitement and tension that has engulfed the country.' Millions of eligible citizens voted on Sunday. Erdogan and his wife, Emine Erdogan, cast their votes at a polling station in Istanbul on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Kilicdaroglu, representing the opposition coalition, and his wife, Selvi Kilicdaroglu, voted at a polling station in Ankara. 64 million Turkish citizens are eligible to vote in today's pivotal elections, and published images indicate high participation rates among citizens. The Turkish elections are at the forefront of the world's major news, and many observers describe this election as 'perhaps' the beginning of a new political chapter in Turkey. Reuters reported that this voting will transform Turkey's political and economic future. If victorious, Kilicdaroglu, as Erdogan's most serious rival, will face challenges in uniting the opposition coalition, which includes nationalists, Islamists, secularists, and liberals. CNN also noted that over the past two years, the value of the Turkish currency has significantly decreased and prices have sharply increased, undermining Erdogan's conservative base and support from the working class. Turkish journalist Yucel Kuc stated regarding this election: 'Erdogan has pursued a national and indigenous policy that the Turkish nation has supported.' He believes the opposition wants to change foreign policy, while Erdogan's government has followed 'the best approach' in the Ukraine war and the Syrian conflict. Kuc described Turkey as 'the most democratic' country in the world, asserting that freedoms are in progress at all levels in the country. Svat Ozchagdas, a senior member of the Republican People's Party, also stated regarding today's elections: 'For us, peace in the Middle East is a priority, and our leader Kilicdaroglu will pursue this position.' Ozchagdas emphasized that the Republican People's Party will pursue new policies regarding migrants if victorious, stating that 'Syrian refugees must return home, which requires establishing peace.' He added that citizenship by purchasing property in Turkey will also be reviewed and a new approach will be adopted. According to this politician, Turkey is 'in an era far from freedom and democracy' and 'needs rapid and clear reforms.' Voting for the simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey began at 8 AM on Sunday, May 14, local time, and continued until 5 PM local time. According to Turkey's voting system, the winner of the presidential election must secure more than 50% of the votes; otherwise, the election will go to a second round. Ahead of the elections, concerns about election result manipulation and unrest have intensified.