President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins the third presidential term. (Photo: Reuters)

The Supreme Election Council of Turkey announced that with almost all the votes counted, President Erdogan has won 52.14% of the votes, while his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the candidate of a six-party coalition, has won only 47.68% of the vote. President Erdogan has declared victory, and Kilicdaroglu has accepted the result.

President Erdogan’s victory

Speaking to supporters outside the Presidential Palace in the capital Ankara on Monday, President Erdogan thanked Turkish voters for giving him the responsibility of running the country for the next five years. The 69-year-old President said the election was the most important event for Turkey in the modern era, and a victory for all 85 million Turks.

Observers said Erdogan retained the support of Turkish voters thanks to his populist policy and independent foreign policy.

As Turkey’s Prime Minister and President since 2003, Erdogan has implemented a flexible but tough foreign policy helping to increase Turkey's influence in the region. He has burnished his image as an important world leader by mediating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and backing the Black Sea Grains Initiative. Many Turkish voters believe Erdogan has given Turkey a more important voice in the region and the world.

After the election results were announced, world leaders, including the UN Secretary-General, the Presidents of Russia, the US, the UK, Egypt, and Iran congratulated Erdogan and expressed their desire to cooperate with him.

This reflects the international community’s special interest in the Turkish political situation as well as President Erdogan himself. Given its extremely important geostrategic position, Turkey’s stability is essential for the stability of both the Middle East and Europe.

Challenges and prospects  

Analysts say President Erdogan is under pressure to steer Turkey through multiple difficulties, including an economy reeling from high inflation and severe damage from a destructive earthquake in February.

The top external affairs challenges will be balancing between Russia and the West in order to protect Turkey’s strategic interests, and increasing Turkey's influence in the Middle East and its relations with other major powers like China and the European Union.

Erdogan has some great advantages for his next 5-year term, partially voters’ trust giving him the confidence to pursue ambitious domestic and foreign policies.

In his victory declaration on Monday, Erdogan pledged to strengthen Turkey's global position by investing in transportation and energy. He is building an International Fuel Center at the urging of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Erdogan has said he wants to make Turkey a global power.