The Washington PostThe Washington Post

Erdogan claims lead amid contested vote count in Turkey election

By Kareem Fahim, Murat Oztaskin and Zeynep Karatas

15 May 2023 · 6 min read

Editor's Note

The race is too close to call and appears to be heading for a runoff. The Washington Post reports from Turkey where the opposition fears that Erdogan will deploy every tool to stay in power.

ISTANBUL - A pivotal election between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu was thrown into chaos late Sunday after Kilicdaroglu accused his opponents of obstructing the vote and Erdogan expressed confidence that he would ultimately prevail.

"They are blocking the system with repeated objections," Kilicdaroglu said in a televised speech from his party's headquarters after midnight. "There are ballot boxes that have been contested six times. There are ballot boxes that have been contested 11 times.

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