News / Politics

‘Victory for democracy’: Iran hails high voter turnout in Turkey

Monday, 15 May 2023 9:11 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 15 May 2023 9:58 AM ]

Election officials count ballots at a polling station in Istanbul on May 14, 2023, after polls closed in Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections. (Photo by AFP)

Iran has congratulated Turkey over presidential and parliamentary elections, saying the high voter turnout demonstrates that "democracy has prevailed" in the neighboring Muslim country.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani made the remarks on Monday after the results suggested that Turkey’s fiercely contested election will go to a runoff.

He congratulated the Turkish people and organizers of the elections as well as the political parties and wished them all the best.

“The high voter turnout in Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday and the successful holding of the votes are a sign of victory for democracy in the neighboring and Muslim country,” Kan’ani added.

🔽 Iran congratulates Turkey over presidential, parliamentary votes

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has reacted to the high electoral participation rates in Turkey’s election, describing it as a victory for democracy. pic.twitter.com/NE6a3JZ998
— Iran Foreign Ministry 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) May 15, 2023

Incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has secured some 49.42 percent, compared to 44.95 percent for his main rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. A third candidate, Sinan Ogan, also stood at 5.2 percent of the vote.

Neither Erdogan nor Kilicdaroglu cleared the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a second round, to be held on May 28.

More than 64 million Turkish people, including overseas voters, were eligible to vote and nearly 89 percent participated in the election to choose their next president and parliament for a five-year term.

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www.presstv.ir