Erdogan

In the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, people gathered around the Sebilj Fountain in the city's old town and waved Turkish flags andf posters of Erdogan and his party. Photo: Klix.ba

In the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, people gathered around the Sebilj Fountain in the city's old town and waved Turkish flags and posters of Erdogan and his party. The group later made a convoy touring the city.

A picture of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan outside the presidential palace following the second round of presidential elections, Ankara, 28 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/NECATI SAVAS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan thanked supporters on May 28 as the vote count has neared end, with unofficial results showing him leading in runoff.

"We will be ruling the country for the coming five years," Erdoğan told his cheering supporters from atop a bus in his home district in Istanbul. "God willing, we will be deserving of your trust."

To the dismay of secular and Westernized segments of Turkish society Erdogan once again proved his popularity. With 49.5 percent of the votes, he came very close to winning in the first round. The next round is scheduled for Sunday and Erdogan is now the clear favorite. It was not supposed to be that way.

Rep McCaul, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Politico this week that he is generally open to selling F-16s to Turkey, even if President Erdogan is reelected on Sunday.

As Turkish voters head back to the polls on Sunday for a crucial presidential runoff election, where they will choose between an incumbent leader with increasingly authoritarian tendencies and an opposition that promises to restore democracy, three analysts delve into the factors contributing to Erdogan's enduring political career.

Illustration: BIRN/Igor Vujcic

On May 14, Erdogan's People's Allaince secured a comfortable majority in parliament and Erdogan himself received 49.5 per cent of the total vote in the presidential race.

He now aims to cement his rule for another five years by beating his main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the opposition's joint champion, in the seond round.

This week Sinan Ogan, the nationalist "kingmaker" who came third in Turkey's elections, endorsed President Erdogan, and his voters could hold the key to victory on Sunday in Turkey's runoff.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shaking hands with former presidential candidate of the ATA Alliance, Sinan Ogan (L) in Istanbul. 19 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/PRESIDENT PRESS OFFICE HANDOUT

"I will support President Erdogan in the second round and I call on our supporters to vote for People's Alliance's candidate Erdogan," Ogan said on Monday.

Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the opposition Republican People's Party, CHP, addresses a press conference at CHP's headquarters in Ankara, 18 May 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/NECATI SAVAS