<p>Leader of Turkey’s ultranationalist Victory party Umit Ozdag extended his support to opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a step which he took against the party’s former presidential hopeful Sinan Ogan, who was endorsing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.</p>

<p>Ozdag held a joint press conference with Kilicdaroglu, in which he declared that the leaders have signed a memorandum of understanding&nbsp;which includes assurance to deport all refugees in Turkey in a year after coming to power.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The leaders also agreed that the democratically elected Kurdish mayors will not be reinstated in Turkey’s south-east who were earlier replaced as part of a crackdown by the state on the leftwing leaders and especially those belonging to the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), which was a swipe at the Kurdish support which buoyed Kilicdaroglu through the first round.</p>

<p>“We reached a consensus with him. As the Victory party, we decided to support Kilicdaroglu in the second round,” he stated.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-election-erdogans-chance-of-winning-goes-up-as-sinan-ogan-pledges-support-595229">Turkey election: Erdogan's chance of winning goes up as Sinan Ogan&nbsp;pledges&nbsp;support</a></p>

<h2><strong>HDP party to hold a meeting to discuss response</strong></h2>

<p>The HDP party, whose leader Selahattin Demirtas had earlier endorsed Kilicdaroglu, stated that it would hold a meeting to decide how to respond.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The split endorsement came days before Kilicdaroglu and Erdogan are likely to face a runoff round in the presidential elections on May 28. Erdogan received more than 49.5 per cent of the vote in the first round, ahead of Kilicdaroglu 's 44.5 per cent.</p>

<p>Ogan, who fought elections on a far-right explicitly anti-refugee platform, received just more than five&nbsp;per cent of the vote in the first phase and announced his support for Erdogan this week.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Turkey Elections: The final twist in the tale is yet to come - Who will Sinan Ogan support? | WION</strong></p>

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<p>“We believe that our decision will be the right decision for our country and nation,” he stated. “I declare that we will support Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the candidate of the People’s Alliance, in the second round of the elections," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ogan was backed by the Victory party but at the time the statement issued by the leader did not represent the views of the party.</p>

<p>Throughout his campaign, Kilicdaroglu has stated that he would expel all refugees “within two years” of coming to power in Turkey. Speaking to the Guardian about if he intended to square the promise with the desire to become part of the European Union, Kilicdaroglu replied, “We do not think of this as racism. When we come to power, we will sit and talk with the legitimate administration in Syria and find a solution to this problem.”</p>

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Leader of Turkey’s ultranationalist Victory party Umit Ozdag extended his support to opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a step which he took against the party’s former presidential hopeful Sinan Ogan, who was endorsing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Leader of Turkey’s ultranationalist Victory party Umit Ozdag extended his support to opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a step which he took against the party’s former presidential hopeful Sinan Ogan, who was endorsing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ozdag held a joint press conference with Kilicdaroglu, in which he declared that the leaders have signed a memorandum of understanding which includes assurance to deport all refugees in Turkey in a year after coming to power. The leaders also agreed that the democratically elected Kurdish mayors will not be reinstated in Turkey’s south-east who were earlier replaced as part of a crackdown by the state on the leftwing leaders and especially those belonging to the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), which was a swipe at the Kurdish support which buoyed Kilicdaroglu through the first round. “We reached a consensus with him. As the Victory party, we decided to support Kilicdaroglu in the second round,” he stated. ALSO READ | Turkey election: Erdogan's chance of winning goes up as Sinan Ogan pledges support HDP party to hold a meeting to discuss response The HDP party, whose leader Selahattin Demirtas had earlier endorsed Kilicdaroglu, stated that it would hold a meeting to decide how to respond. The split endorsement came days before Kilicdaroglu and Erdogan are likely to face a runoff round in the presidential elections on May 28. Erdogan received more than 49.5 per cent of the vote in the first round, ahead of Kilicdaroglu 's 44.5 per cent. Ogan, who fought elections on a far-right explicitly anti-refugee platform, received just more than five per cent of the vote in the first phase and announced his support for Erdogan this week. WATCH | Turkey Elections: The final twist in the tale is yet to come - Who will Sinan Ogan support? | WION “We believe that our decision will be the right decision for our country and nation,” he stated. “I declare that we will support Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the candidate of the People’s Alliance, in the second round of the elections," he added. Ogan was backed by the Victory party but at the time the statement issued by the leader did not represent the views of the party. Throughout his campaign, Kilicdaroglu has stated that he would expel all refugees “within two years” of coming to power in Turkey. Speaking to the Guardian about if he intended to square the promise with the desire to become part of the European Union, Kilicdaroglu replied, “We do not think of this as racism. When we come to power, we will sit and talk with the legitimate administration in Syria and find a solution to this problem.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Turkey: Ultranationalist leader supports Kemal Kilicdaroglu in race for the presidency

Russia has warned Ukraine that it will respond with extreme harshness to all future incursions. This came after it made fresh-sabotage allegations against Ukraine in the aftermath of a cross-border raid in Belgorod region. Meanwhile several Nations have stepped up support to keep as it faces an intensified offensive by Moscow. Russia says that it has ended an attack on its warship in Turkish Waters. Russian defense Ministry made the claim blaming it on Ukraine and said that the Russian vessel had been tasked with guarding pipeline infrastructure in Turkish Waters.

Kyiv accused of another sabotage attempt in Turkish waters

Turkey has busted an alleged Mossad espionage ring. 11 alleged Mossad operatives have been arrested. What were they doing in Turkey? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Turkey arrests 11 alleged Espionage ring

<p>Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) said Tuesday it had caught 11 people in the country spying for Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. Daily Sabah reported that the group, which also included two Turkish nationals, was active countrywide and was led by Selçuk Küçükkaya, a man trained in Europe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, MIT officers have launched an investigation against Küçükkaya in collaboration with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. It is believed that Serkan Özdemir, former Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) personnel, was responsible for establishing connection links between Mossad and Küçükkaya. The Turkish media labels Özdemir as a member of the so-called Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), who fled Turkey to avoid persecution.</p>

<h2><strong>Mossad allegedly trained Küçükkaya in Europe</strong></h2>

<p>Turkish media alleged that Mossad executives personally met with Küçükkaya in several European nations, who introduced themselves as Jose-Jorhe Satia, Thomas Alfonso, and Raul. During his training period, he was taught about Mossad’s secret communication system.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Israel appoints former top agent David Barnea as new Mossad chief</strong></p>

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<p>MIT (Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı), the Turkish national intelligence agency, claimed that Küçükkaya was assigned to gather intelligence on a company and 23 individuals who had trade connections with Iran.</p>

<p>Küçükkaya's role involved surveillance of the homes and workplaces of the targeted individuals and their families. He leaked information to Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, regarding their international flights, phone conversations, signals, bank accounts, and properties. This illicit operation was aimed at monitoring and gathering sensitive information about individuals and their ties to Iran.</p>

<h2><strong>MIT claims two operatives currently at large</strong></h2>

<p>However, Küçükkaya and his accomplices were apprehended when he sent a threatening package to one of his targets, who promptly filed a complaint. As a result, 11 individuals involved in the operation were captured during an operation in Istanbul. Two other operatives managed to escape and are currently being pursued by authorities, according to MIT.</p>

<h2><strong>Previous claims made by MIT</strong></h2>

<p>This is not the first time the Turkish intelligence agency has claimed to have exposed a Mossad spy cell within the country. In December last year, seven individuals were arrested for spying on Palestinians. MIT had revealed that these suspects were assisting Mossad in conducting online defamation campaigns and making threats against Palestinians.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/netanyahu-discloses-why-us-intel-leaks-said-mossad-encouraged-israel-protests-583154"><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;Netanyahu discloses why US intel leaks said Mossad encouraged Israel protests</strong></a></p>

<p>MIT has claimed to have uncovered various espionage networks in recent years. Among these discoveries was a network allegedly working for Russia. Additionally, they successfully foiled an assassination plot by Iran targeting Israeli citizens in Turkey. Furthermore, the agency's operations have led to the uncovering of an Iranian intelligence scheme to abduct Iranian dissidents seeking refuge in Turkey.</p>

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Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) said Tuesday it had caught 11 people in the country spying for Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. Daily Sabah reported that the group, which also included two Turkish nationals, was active countrywide and was led by Selçuk Küçükkaya, a man trained in Europe.

Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) said Tuesday it had caught 11 people in the country spying for Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. Daily Sabah reported that the group, which also included two Turkish nationals, was active countrywide and was led by Selçuk Küçükkaya, a man trained in Europe. Now, MIT officers have launched an investigation against Küçükkaya in collaboration with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. It is believed that Serkan Özdemir, former Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) personnel, was responsible for establishing connection links between Mossad and Küçükkaya. The Turkish media labels Özdemir as a member of the so-called Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), who fled Turkey to avoid persecution. Mossad allegedly trained Küçükkaya in Europe Turkish media alleged that Mossad executives personally met with Küçükkaya in several European nations, who introduced themselves as Jose-Jorhe Satia, Thomas Alfonso, and Raul. During his training period, he was taught about Mossad’s secret communication system. Watch: Israel appoints former top agent David Barnea as new Mossad chief × MIT (Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı), the Turkish national intelligence agency, claimed that Küçükkaya was assigned to gather intelligence on a company and 23 individuals who had trade connections with Iran. Küçükkaya's role involved surveillance of the homes and workplaces of the targeted individuals and their families. He leaked information to Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, regarding their international flights, phone conversations, signals, bank accounts, and properties. This illicit operation was aimed at monitoring and gathering sensitive information about individuals and their ties to Iran. MIT claims two operatives currently at large However, Küçükkaya and his accomplices were apprehended when he sent a threatening package to one of his targets, who promptly filed a complaint. As a result, 11 individuals involved in the operation were captured during an operation in Istanbul. Two other operatives managed to escape and are currently being pursued by authorities, according to MIT. Previous claims made by MIT This is not the first time the Turkish intelligence agency has claimed to have exposed a Mossad spy cell within the country. In December last year, seven individuals were arrested for spying on Palestinians. MIT had revealed that these suspects were assisting Mossad in conducting online defamation campaigns and making threats against Palestinians. Also Read | Netanyahu discloses why US intel leaks said Mossad encouraged Israel protests MIT has claimed to have uncovered various espionage networks in recent years. Among these discoveries was a network allegedly working for Russia. Additionally, they successfully foiled an assassination plot by Iran targeting Israeli citizens in Turkey. Furthermore, the agency's operations have led to the uncovering of an Iranian intelligence scheme to abduct Iranian dissidents seeking refuge in Turkey. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Turkey’s intelligence claims to have exposed Mossad ring working against Iran

Turkey will hold a runoff election on May 28 after both the incumbent president, Erdogan, and his opponent, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, fell short of the required 50 percent of the vote on May 14. Erdogan has served as president of Turkey for the past 20 years.

Turkey: Incumbent President Erdogan gets an edge over rival leader

Third place finisher in Turkey elections, Sinan Ogan has endorsed Erdogan in the Presidential race. Will his 2.8 million supporters make the same choice? Has Erdogan already won the elections? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Sinan Ogan backs Erdogan in presidential race

<p>China said on Friday that it will boycott the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting scheduled to be held in India’s Jammu and Kashmir. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a presser on Friday said, "China firmly opposes holding any form of G20 meetings on disputed territory. We will not attend such meetings." Under India's presidency, the third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting will be held from May 22 to 24 in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.</p>

<h2><strong>China, a close ally of Pakistan&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>China and Pakistan share a close relationship, and their ties have often been characterised as an "all-weather friendship." However, their alliance is not solely based on the Kashmir issue, but encompasses a broader range of political, economic, and strategic interests. There have been accusations of China supporting terrorism in Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Saudi Arabia and Turkey skip registration&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>With just two days remaining in the key meet in Jammu and Kashmir, Turkey and Saudi Arabia were still to register for the meeting till Friday. However, neither Turkey nor Saudi Arabia has made any official announcement over the same.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-71-earthquake-rocks-east-of-new-caledonia-in-pacific-ocean-594298">Another 7.1 earthquake rocks east of New Caledonia in Pacific Ocean, tsunami warning issued</a></p>

<p>It is pertinent to note that as per Indian Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh, the registration window to attend the meeting would remain open till May 22 morning.</p>

<h2><strong>Turkey's stand on Kashmir&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Turkey has consistently leaned towards Pakistan on&nbsp;the Kashmir dispute.&nbsp;The country has also raised the Kashmir issue at international forums.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-and-japans-kishida-hold-talks-on-sidelines-of-g7-594288">PM Modi meets Japan's Kishida on sidelines of G7, unveils Mahatma Gandhi's bust in Hiroshima</a></p>

<p>Turkey brought up the issue in the United Nations General Assembly and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), urging the international community to play a more active role in finding a solution and addressing the human rights concerns in Kashmir.</p>

<h2><strong>Egypt skips registration as well &nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Along with G20 members, representatives from a number of international institutions and guest nations have also been invited.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Who was behind the 2022 clashes in Leicester?</strong></p>

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<p>Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates are a few of these. According to officials, apart from Egypt, all other nations, have registered to send representatives.</p>

<h2><strong>G20 in Kashmir to attract investors&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Kashmir is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and serene landscapes and has been a popular tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors.&nbsp;The tourism industry has played a significant role in the region's economy. Tourism players in Kashmir believe that the G20 meeting can attract investors and tourists from across the globe. The G20 summit, according to Kashmir's tourism players, has the potential to draw in foreign investment and visitors.&nbsp;</p>

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China said on Friday that it will boycott the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting scheduled to be held in India’s Jammu and Kashmir. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a presser on Friday said, "China firmly opposes holding any form of G20 meetings on disputed territory.

China said on Friday that it will boycott the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting scheduled to be held in India’s Jammu and Kashmir. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a presser on Friday said, "China firmly opposes holding any form of G20 meetings on disputed territory. We will not attend such meetings." Under India's presidency, the third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting will be held from May 22 to 24 in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. China, a close ally of Pakistan China and Pakistan share a close relationship, and their ties have often been characterised as an "all-weather friendship." However, their alliance is not solely based on the Kashmir issue, but encompasses a broader range of political, economic, and strategic interests. There have been accusations of China supporting terrorism in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia and Turkey skip registration With just two days remaining in the key meet in Jammu and Kashmir, Turkey and Saudi Arabia were still to register for the meeting till Friday. However, neither Turkey nor Saudi Arabia has made any official announcement over the same. Also Read | Another 7.1 earthquake rocks east of New Caledonia in Pacific Ocean, tsunami warning issued It is pertinent to note that as per Indian Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh, the registration window to attend the meeting would remain open till May 22 morning. Turkey's stand on Kashmir Turkey has consistently leaned towards Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute. The country has also raised the Kashmir issue at international forums. Also Read | PM Modi meets Japan's Kishida on sidelines of G7, unveils Mahatma Gandhi's bust in Hiroshima Turkey brought up the issue in the United Nations General Assembly and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), urging the international community to play a more active role in finding a solution and addressing the human rights concerns in Kashmir. Egypt skips registration as well Along with G20 members, representatives from a number of international institutions and guest nations have also been invited. WATCH | Who was behind the 2022 clashes in Leicester? × Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates are a few of these. According to officials, apart from Egypt, all other nations, have registered to send representatives. G20 in Kashmir to attract investors Kashmir is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and serene landscapes and has been a popular tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors. The tourism industry has played a significant role in the region's economy. Tourism players in Kashmir believe that the G20 meeting can attract investors and tourists from across the globe. The G20 summit, according to Kashmir's tourism players, has the potential to draw in foreign investment and visitors. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

China to boycott G20 meet in India’s J-K; Saudi Arabia, Egypt & Turkey skip registration

<p>The capital city of Turkey, Ankara, was recently hit by a violent storm in which a sofa was seen flying high in the sky.</p>

<p>The video of the flying sofa, which is widely shared on social media, shows strong winds carrying the sofa with itself through the sky, finally hitting another building amid the storm.</p>

<p>The viral video of the sofa was posted by a Twitter page called as Guru of Nothing. In the video, the object was initially seen flying in the sky.</p>

<p>After the camera zooms in, the viewers figure out that the flying object is a sofa. In a few seconds, the sofa hits another building amid the strong winds.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Multiple sofas flying during storm in Ankara, Turkey. <a href="https://t.co/gWpzUuwDM8">pic.twitter.com/gWpzUuwDM8</a></p>
— Guru of Nothing (@GuruOfNothing69) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuruOfNothing69/status/1658932091197833217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>No one was fortunately injured in the incident and surprisingly, the sofa landed in a nearby garden and remained in usable condition.</p>

<h2><strong>Twitteratis calls sofa 'Aladdin' updated mode of transport'</strong></h2>

<p>Reacting to the video, a user said, "Imagine looking out your window and seeing a sofa flying towards you.” "Imagine getting smacked by a flying couch...man,” the second person stated.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cyclone-mocha-at-least-six-killed-hundreds-injured-after-powerful-storm-batters-myanmar-592635">Cyclone Mocha: At least six killed, hundreds injured after powerful storm batters Myanmar</a></p>

<p>"Need to remake Aladdin with updated mode of transport," stated another person. "Only in Turkiye hahaha," commented a user. "Would love to sit on this couch and not land ever," said another user.</p>

<p>A violent storm hit Ankara on May 17 and caused major havoc in the city.</p>

<h2><strong>Mayor issues warning</strong></h2>

<p>Taking to Twitter, Ankara's Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavas informed the residents about the heavy rains and strong winds and appealed to them to take necessary precautions.</p>

<p>In a tweet, Yavas said, "According to the data obtained from the meteorology, the wind in Ankara is expected to reach up to 78 km per hour. I beg you to take action."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Thick layer of haze hovers over New Delhi | WION Climate Tracker</strong></p>

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<p>Replying to the mayor's tweet, a person stated, "I am 50 years old and I have never seen such a storm in my life. The wind has lifted all the gutters and now it's raining heavily."</p>

<p>The storm led to significant destruction throughout the city. Windows and roofs of the buildings were blown off and trees were uprooted as debris flew in the air.</p>

<p>Pictures of videos of the violent storm were also shared by many people on social media. Residents also posted about their experiences of the storm's aftermath on social media platforms.</p>

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The capital city of Turkey, Ankara, was recently hit by a violent storm in which a sofa was seen flying high in the sky. The video of the flying sofa, which is widely shared on social media, shows strong winds carrying the sofa with itself through the sky, finally hitting another building amid the storm.

The capital city of Turkey, Ankara, was recently hit by a violent storm in which a sofa was seen flying high in the sky. The video of the flying sofa, which is widely shared on social media, shows strong winds carrying the sofa with itself through the sky, finally hitting another building amid the storm. The viral video of the sofa was posted by a Twitter page called as Guru of Nothing. In the video, the object was initially seen flying in the sky. After the camera zooms in, the viewers figure out that the flying object is a sofa. In a few seconds, the sofa hits another building amid the strong winds. Multiple sofas flying during storm in Ankara, Turkey. pic.twitter.com/gWpzUuwDM8 — Guru of Nothing (@GuruOfNothing69) May 17, 2023 × No one was fortunately injured in the incident and surprisingly, the sofa landed in a nearby garden and remained in usable condition. Twitteratis calls sofa 'Aladdin' updated mode of transport' Reacting to the video, a user said, "Imagine looking out your window and seeing a sofa flying towards you.” "Imagine getting smacked by a flying couch...man,” the second person stated. ALSO READ | Cyclone Mocha: At least six killed, hundreds injured after powerful storm batters Myanmar "Need to remake Aladdin with updated mode of transport," stated another person. "Only in Turkiye hahaha," commented a user. "Would love to sit on this couch and not land ever," said another user. A violent storm hit Ankara on May 17 and caused major havoc in the city. Mayor issues warning Taking to Twitter, Ankara's Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavas informed the residents about the heavy rains and strong winds and appealed to them to take necessary precautions. In a tweet, Yavas said, "According to the data obtained from the meteorology, the wind in Ankara is expected to reach up to 78 km per hour. I beg you to take action." WATCH | Thick layer of haze hovers over New Delhi | WION Climate Tracker Replying to the mayor's tweet, a person stated, "I am 50 years old and I have never seen such a storm in my life. The wind has lifted all the gutters and now it's raining heavily." The storm led to significant destruction throughout the city. Windows and roofs of the buildings were blown off and trees were uprooted as debris flew in the air. Pictures of videos of the violent storm were also shared by many people on social media. Residents also posted about their experiences of the storm's aftermath on social media platforms. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

WATCH | Sofa soars high in sky amid violent storm in Turkey's Ankara

Were the Turkey elections rigged? Erdogan's rivals are crying foul. The opposition claims there were errors in the counting of votes in as many as 4,825 ballot boxes. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Did Erdogan rig Turkey elections

Turkiye is headed into round two of the high stake Presidential elections after the first round ended inconclusively. Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan missed the required 50% by a whisker. His main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu came in second with 44% of the votes. Many pre-poll surveys expected Kemal to dethrone Erdogan after 20 years. But, when that didn't happen reports started floating around of electoral malpractice.

Turkiye May 14 Presidential elections ended inconclusively

Turkey's main opposition party has filed complaints over suspected irregularities at thousands of ballot boxes in Sunday's landmark election, in which President Tayyip Erdogan performed better than expected.

Turkey: Republican People's party and Green Left Party allege ballot irregularities

Opposition parties in Turkiye have alleged irregularities in the general elections which took place last Sunday. The accusations come as President Erdogan is set to compete with opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in a Presidential runoff. Erdogan has emerged as the leading candidate in the elections that were held to elect both the President as well as the Parliament narrowly missing the 50% mark required to register victory. But, opposition parties claim that these elections were marred by thousands of discrepancies and ballot irregularities.

Turkiye general elections 2023: Parties claim thousands of discrepancies and ballot irregularities

<p>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Wednesday (May 17), announced a two-month extension of the United Nations-backed deal allowing the war-torn to ship grains across the Black Sea to global markets. This comes as the last ship left a Ukrainian port under the deal which was due to expire on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“With the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends, the contribution of our Ukrainian friends, it was decided to prolong the Black Sea grain deal for two more months,” said the Turkish president, as quoted by news agency AFP.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In a televised speech, Erdogan also thanked Russian and Ukrainian leaders as well as the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for their help.&nbsp;Russia agreed not to block ships from leaving two Ukrainian harbours, Erdogan said while expressing&nbsp;hope that the deal would be "beneficial for all the parties".</p>

<p>The decision also comes as officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN which make up a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) gathered in Istanbul, last week, to discuss the extension of the Black Sea pact.<br />
<br />
"These agreements matter for global food security -&nbsp;Ukrainian and Russian products feed the world," said&nbsp;Guterres as he welcomed&nbsp;the move, and stressed&nbsp;the need&nbsp;for a more comprehensive, longer-term agreement.</p>

<p>The JCC officials near Turkey typically inspect and authorise ships before it travels to a Ukrainian Black Sea port via a maritime humanitarian corridor to collect their cargo and return to Turkish waters for a final inspection, as per Reuters. However, no vessels had been authorised by the JCC since May 4.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Ukraine is&nbsp;'grateful' to UN, Turkey</strong><br />
<br />
After the extension was confirmed,&nbsp;Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov took to Twitter and thanked&nbsp;United Nations and Turkey for their efforts. "The Black Sea Grain Initiative has been unblocked, (and) continues to be valid" until July 18, said&nbsp; Kubrakov, adding that&nbsp;Kyiv was "grateful to our partners" for their efforts in "strengthening food security."</p>

<p><strong>Russia's overall assessment remains unchanged</strong></p>

<p>The extension of the deal was later confirmed by&nbsp;Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova who said that it would help&nbsp;countries in need, adding that Moscow's&nbsp;overall assessment of the situation regarding the deal had not changed. This comes as Russia had threatened to pull out of the deal unless&nbsp;a list of conditions were met.<br />
<br />
"Our fundamental assessments of the Istanbul agreements concluded on July 22, 2022, have not changed, and the distortions in their implementation must be corrected as quickly as possible," said&nbsp;Zakharova&nbsp;in a video briefing to the press.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Notably, the UN back in July had agreed to help Moscow with its own agricultural shipments for three years. “There are still a lot of open questions regarding our part of the deal. Now a decision will have to be taken,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This comes as Moscow said restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have amounted to a barrier to shipments. However, the United States has since rejected these complaints and said that Russia is “exporting grain and fertiliser at the same levels, if not higher, than before the full scale invasion.”&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Black Sea grain export deal</strong></p>

<p>Among thousands of sanctions imposed by the West against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, exports of food and fertiliser have not reportedly been a part of any of such restrictions. According to the data from the UN, the DSM Capella, the last vessel now operating under the deal, had left the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk carrying 30,000 tonnes of corn and was on its way to Turkey.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UN-Turkey brokered deal allowing the safe passage of ships through the Black Sea began as an initial 120 days in July last year to help tackle a global food crisis which has been exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the latter is one of the world’s leading grain exporters. In November, last year, the pact was extended after Moscow agreed to a 120-day extension and earlier this year agreed to a 60-day extension, which was to end on May 18.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Wednesday (May 17), announced a two-month extension of the United Nations-backed deal allowing the war-torn to ship grains across the Black Sea to global markets.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Wednesday (May 17), announced a two-month extension of the United Nations-backed deal allowing the war-torn to ship grains across the Black Sea to global markets. This comes as the last ship left a Ukrainian port under the deal which was due to expire on Thursday. “With the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends, the contribution of our Ukrainian friends, it was decided to prolong the Black Sea grain deal for two more months,” said the Turkish president, as quoted by news agency AFP. In a televised speech, Erdogan also thanked Russian and Ukrainian leaders as well as the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for their help. Russia agreed not to block ships from leaving two Ukrainian harbours, Erdogan said while expressing hope that the deal would be "beneficial for all the parties". The decision also comes as officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN which make up a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) gathered in Istanbul, last week, to discuss the extension of the Black Sea pact. "These agreements matter for global food security - Ukrainian and Russian products feed the world," said Guterres as he welcomed the move, and stressed the need for a more comprehensive, longer-term agreement. The JCC officials near Turkey typically inspect and authorise ships before it travels to a Ukrainian Black Sea port via a maritime humanitarian corridor to collect their cargo and return to Turkish waters for a final inspection, as per Reuters. However, no vessels had been authorised by the JCC since May 4. Ukraine is 'grateful' to UN, Turkey After the extension was confirmed, Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov took to Twitter and thanked United Nations and Turkey for their efforts. "The Black Sea Grain Initiative has been unblocked, (and) continues to be valid" until July 18, said Kubrakov, adding that Kyiv was "grateful to our partners" for their efforts in "strengthening food security." Russia's overall assessment remains unchanged The extension of the deal was later confirmed by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova who said that it would help countries in need, adding that Moscow's overall assessment of the situation regarding the deal had not changed. This comes as Russia had threatened to pull out of the deal unless a list of conditions were met. "Our fundamental assessments of the Istanbul agreements concluded on July 22, 2022, have not changed, and the distortions in their implementation must be corrected as quickly as possible," said Zakharova in a video briefing to the press. Notably, the UN back in July had agreed to help Moscow with its own agricultural shipments for three years. “There are still a lot of open questions regarding our part of the deal. Now a decision will have to be taken,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on Tuesday. This comes as Moscow said restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have amounted to a barrier to shipments. However, the United States has since rejected these complaints and said that Russia is “exporting grain and fertiliser at the same levels, if not higher, than before the full scale invasion.” Black Sea grain export deal Among thousands of sanctions imposed by the West against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, exports of food and fertiliser have not reportedly been a part of any of such restrictions. According to the data from the UN, the DSM Capella, the last vessel now operating under the deal, had left the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk carrying 30,000 tonnes of corn and was on its way to Turkey. The UN-Turkey brokered deal allowing the safe passage of ships through the Black Sea began as an initial 120 days in July last year to help tackle a global food crisis which has been exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the latter is one of the world’s leading grain exporters. In November, last year, the pact was extended after Moscow agreed to a 120-day extension and earlier this year agreed to a 60-day extension, which was to end on May 18. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine grain deal extended for two more months, Russia slams ‘distortions’ in implementation

There's a whole new dimension to the high stakes through elections that has now moved into the runoff round that is after neither Turkish President Erdogan nor the Opposition candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, could secure the 50% threshold.

Turkey Elections: The final twist in the tale is yet to come - Who will Sinan Ogan support? | WION

<p>Turkey’s presidential election will be decided in a runoff, election officials said on Monday (May 15). This comes a&nbsp;day after incumbent President&nbsp;Recep Tayyip Erdogan released a statement saying he was prepared for a runoff election, following one of Turkey's most important elections in modern history.<br />
<br />
<strong>Candidates are ready</strong></p>

<p>“We don’t know yet whether the election will be over in the first round, but if people take us to a second round, we will respect that too," Erdogan told his supporters, adding that his ruling conservative alliance had won a “majority" in parliament.</p>

<p>While Erdogan took a conservative position, his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu rattled the cage once again and said the president had not received the result he was expecting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Despite all his smear campaigns and insults, Erdogan did not get the result he expected. Nobody should get excited about a fait accompli," said Kilicdaroglu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Elections are not won on the balcony (referring to Erdogan's speech). Election data still continues to come. If our nation decides on a runoff, with our pleasure. We will definitely win this election in the second round. Everyone will see it."</p>

<p>Sinan Ogan, the third presidential candidate who has allied with Erdogan, took to Twitter late on Sunday to cast aspersions over the overseas vote-counting process.</p>

<p>"We have heard that some manipulations were carried out in the overseas vote counting processes. Vote counting is not done in a healthy environment. I warn the YSK. Take the necessary measures immediately and ensure that the vote counting processes are carried out quickly," Ogan tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In addition, we will not allow a fait accompli with a manipulation of foreign votes. Do not stress the environment. This is up to the second round."</p>

<p>Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, who is running for the vice-president post as a candidate for the&nbsp;main opposition Nation Alliance bloc, stated that Anadolu’s results were unreliable. He said the opposition data showed&nbsp;Kilicdaroglu as being ahead of Erdogan.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-turkey-elections-is-erdogans-defeat-certain-592389"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: Turkey Elections: Is Erdogan's defeat certain?</strong></a></p>

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<p>Early votes from heavily pro-government districts appeared to be giving Erdogan the lead, but as more ballots were counted, his lead appeared to be shrinking.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>May 28 runoff election</strong></h2>

<p>Ankara is&nbsp;headed for a May 28 runoff election after neither Erdogan nor Kilicdaroglu had managed to clear&nbsp;the 50 per cent&nbsp;threshold required to avoid a second round.&nbsp;Turkey’s High Election Board announced the unofficial results on Monday afternoon local time and hours later the official announcement was made by its head&nbsp;Ahmet Yener saying that the&nbsp;campaigning for the runoff has opened.</p>

<p>With almost 97 per cent of ballot boxes counted, Erdogan led with 49.39 per cent&nbsp;of votes and Kilicdaroglu had 44.92 per cent, according to a Reuters report which quoted state-owned news agency Anadolu as saying. Meanwhile, Turkey's High Election Board gave Erdogan 49.49 per cent with 91.93 per cent&nbsp;of ballot boxes counted.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/turkey-to-vote-in-crucial-election-which-could-unseat-erdogan-after-20-years-592169"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong></a><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/turkey-to-vote-in-crucial-election-which-could-unseat-erdogan-after-20-years-592169">Turkey to vote in crucial election today. Will it unseat Erdogan after 20 years?</a></strong></p>

<p>This year's&nbsp;election largely centred&nbsp;around the economy, civil rights and the devastating February earthquake that left more than 50,000 dead. Thus, Erdogan not receiving outright victory is being seen as a verdict against his highly authoritarian tendencies.&nbsp;Under his rule, Turkey has emerged as one of the most rigid and financially frail countries in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>69-year-old Erdogan&nbsp;has been at the centre of power in Turkey as either prime minister or president since 2003. In the run-up to the election, opinion surveys had indicated the increasingly authoritarian leader narrowly trailed his challenger.<br />
<br />
<strong>Biden looks forward to working with whoever wins election</strong><br />
<br />
The White House, on Monday, said that United States President&nbsp;Joe Biden is "looking forward to working with whoever"&nbsp;wins Turkey's&nbsp;knife-edge election as the NATO ally holds peaceful elections.</p>

<p>"We congratulate the Turkish people for expressing their desires at the ballot box in a peaceful way," said&nbsp;National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, as quoted by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Turkey’s presidential election will be decided in a runoff, election officials said on Monday (May 15). This comes a day after incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan released a statement saying he was prepared for a runoff election, following one of Turkey's most important elections in modern history.

Turkey’s presidential election will be decided in a runoff, election officials said on Monday (May 15). This comes a day after incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan released a statement saying he was prepared for a runoff election, following one of Turkey's most important elections in modern history. Candidates are ready “We don’t know yet whether the election will be over in the first round, but if people take us to a second round, we will respect that too," Erdogan told his supporters, adding that his ruling conservative alliance had won a “majority" in parliament. While Erdogan took a conservative position, his opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu rattled the cage once again and said the president had not received the result he was expecting. "Despite all his smear campaigns and insults, Erdogan did not get the result he expected. Nobody should get excited about a fait accompli," said Kilicdaroglu. "Elections are not won on the balcony (referring to Erdogan's speech). Election data still continues to come. If our nation decides on a runoff, with our pleasure. We will definitely win this election in the second round. Everyone will see it." Sinan Ogan, the third presidential candidate who has allied with Erdogan, took to Twitter late on Sunday to cast aspersions over the overseas vote-counting process. "We have heard that some manipulations were carried out in the overseas vote counting processes. Vote counting is not done in a healthy environment. I warn the YSK. Take the necessary measures immediately and ensure that the vote counting processes are carried out quickly," Ogan tweeted. "In addition, we will not allow a fait accompli with a manipulation of foreign votes. Do not stress the environment. This is up to the second round." Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, who is running for the vice-president post as a candidate for the main opposition Nation Alliance bloc, stated that Anadolu’s results were unreliable. He said the opposition data showed Kilicdaroglu as being ahead of Erdogan. WATCH | Gravitas Plus: Turkey Elections: Is Erdogan's defeat certain? × Early votes from heavily pro-government districts appeared to be giving Erdogan the lead, but as more ballots were counted, his lead appeared to be shrinking. May 28 runoff election Ankara is headed for a May 28 runoff election after neither Erdogan nor Kilicdaroglu had managed to clear the 50 per cent threshold required to avoid a second round. Turkey’s High Election Board announced the unofficial results on Monday afternoon local time and hours later the official announcement was made by its head Ahmet Yener saying that the campaigning for the runoff has opened. With almost 97 per cent of ballot boxes counted, Erdogan led with 49.39 per cent of votes and Kilicdaroglu had 44.92 per cent, according to a Reuters report which quoted state-owned news agency Anadolu as saying. Meanwhile, Turkey's High Election Board gave Erdogan 49.49 per cent with 91.93 per cent of ballot boxes counted. ALSO READ | Turkey to vote in crucial election today. Will it unseat Erdogan after 20 years? This year's election largely centred around the economy, civil rights and the devastating February earthquake that left more than 50,000 dead. Thus, Erdogan not receiving outright victory is being seen as a verdict against his highly authoritarian tendencies. Under his rule, Turkey has emerged as one of the most rigid and financially frail countries in the region. 69-year-old Erdogan has been at the centre of power in Turkey as either prime minister or president since 2003. In the run-up to the election, opinion surveys had indicated the increasingly authoritarian leader narrowly trailed his challenger. Biden looks forward to working with whoever wins election The White House, on Monday, said that United States President Joe Biden is "looking forward to working with whoever" wins Turkey's knife-edge election as the NATO ally holds peaceful elections. "We congratulate the Turkish people for expressing their desires at the ballot box in a peaceful way," said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, as quoted by AFP. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Turkey election goes into runoff; President Erdogan, rival Kilicdaroglu say they're ready

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has secured 49.40% of the votes in the presidential election, while his main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has obtained 44.96%, with 99% of ballots cast in Turkey processed. Erdogan claimed a "clear lead" over his secular rival as votes were still being counted but said he was ready for a run-off election if needed.

Turkey Election 2023: Incumbent President Erdogan accepts run-off

With more than 96 percent of the ballot boxes counted, Erdogan led had 49.44 percent of the vote, and Kilicdaroglu had 44.86 percent, neither he nor his opponent had reached the required 50 percent of the vote to win the election.

Turkey Election 2023: Erdogan accepts runoff in elections

Turkey Election 2023: Erdogan accepts runoff, elections to take place on May 28 | World DNA

Erdogan heading for run-off in Turkey's knife-edge elections

Turkey's all-powerful President Erdogan is in the fight of his life against an opposition that has united against him for Sunday's elections. His main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu appeared before a throng of supporters on Friday, flanked by allies from across the political spectrum who have come together as never before.

Turkey Election 2023: Devastating earthquak, aftermath triggers anger against Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a final election campaign rally in Istanbul on Saturday. Turkey will hold its general election on 14 May 2023 with a two-round system to elect its president, while parliamentary elections will be held simultaneously.

Turkey Election 2023: Preliminary numbers show President Erdogan in the lead

Turkey Election 2023: Erdogan trails behind opponent ahead of election

Turkey will head to the polls in a few hours. Will Erdogan return for another term or will these elections mark the end of his era? Molly Gambhir explains on Gravitas Plus.

Gravitas Plus: Turkey Elections: Is Erdogan's defeat certain?

Turkey Election 2023: Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu supporters campaign at full speed

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidOuWpKAwrIo35" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Turkish citizens will vote on Sunday (May 14) in a crucial election that, according to several experts, could unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after 20 years in power and halt his government's increasingly authoritarian path. According to opinion polls, President Erdogan's challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who heads an alliance of six opposition parties, has a slight lead, but if either of the leaders fails to get over 50% of the vote, there will be a runoff election on May 28, the news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Polls will open at 8 am (0500 GMT) and close at 5 pm (1400 GMT). And as per Turkish law, the reporting of any results is banned until 9 pm. Eligible voters will also elect a new parliament, which is also a tight race between the People's Alliance comprising Erdogan's conservative AK Party (AKP) and the nationalist MHP and others, and Kilicdaroglu's Nation Alliance of six opposition parties, including his secularist Republican People's Party (CHP).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/another-twitter-files-netizens-quip-at-timing-of-elon-musk-blocking-content-in-turkey-592162">Another Twitter Files?: Netizens quip at timing of Elon Musk blocking content in Turkey</a></strong></p>

<p>Erdogan's campaign over the past month has focused on the government's achievements in the defence industry and infrastructure projects and his assertion that the opposition would roll back such&nbsp;developments.</p>

<p>On the other hand, Kilicdaroglu, a former civil servant, promises that if he wins he would return to orthodox economic policies, away from Erdogan's heavy management. Kilicdaroglu also said he would seek to return Turkey to the parliamentary system of governance, from Erdogan's executive presidential system passed in a referendum in 2017.</p>

<p>The election in Turkey comes three months after the southeast region of the country was hit by a massive earthquake that killed over 50,000 people. Citizens affected by the disaster expressed anger over the slow initial government response, but there is little evidence that this issue will affect the election.</p>

<h2><strong>A day before poll, Erdogan accuses opposition of working with Biden</strong></h2>

<p>On Saturday, President Erdogan held his last election rallies in Istanbul and accused the opposition of working with United States President Joe Biden to topple him. "Biden gave the order to topple Erdogan, I know this. All my people know this. If that is the case, then the ballots tomorrow will give a response to Biden too," Reuters quoted Erdogan as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, a spokesperson from the US State Department said that Turkey was a long-standing American ally and that Washington would be following the election closely. But the spokesperson said the US does not take sides in elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our only interest is in the democratic process, which should be both free and fair. We trust that Turkish authorities will carry out the election in keeping with its long, proud democratic tradition and its laws," the spokesperson added.</p>

<p><em><strong>(With inputs from agencies)</strong></em></p>

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Turkish citizens will vote on Sunday (May 14) in a crucial election that, according to several experts, could unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after 20 years in power and halt his government's increasingly authoritarian path.

Turkish citizens will vote on Sunday (May 14) in a crucial election that, according to several experts, could unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after 20 years in power and halt his government's increasingly authoritarian path. According to opinion polls, President Erdogan's challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who heads an alliance of six opposition parties, has a slight lead, but if either of the leaders fails to get over 50% of the vote, there will be a runoff election on May 28, the news agency Reuters reported. Polls will open at 8 am (0500 GMT) and close at 5 pm (1400 GMT). And as per Turkish law, the reporting of any results is banned until 9 pm. Eligible voters will also elect a new parliament, which is also a tight race between the People's Alliance comprising Erdogan's conservative AK Party (AKP) and the nationalist MHP and others, and Kilicdaroglu's Nation Alliance of six opposition parties, including his secularist Republican People's Party (CHP). ALSO READ | Another Twitter Files?: Netizens quip at timing of Elon Musk blocking content in Turkey Erdogan's campaign over the past month has focused on the government's achievements in the defence industry and infrastructure projects and his assertion that the opposition would roll back such developments. On the other hand, Kilicdaroglu, a former civil servant, promises that if he wins he would return to orthodox economic policies, away from Erdogan's heavy management. Kilicdaroglu also said he would seek to return Turkey to the parliamentary system of governance, from Erdogan's executive presidential system passed in a referendum in 2017. The election in Turkey comes three months after the southeast region of the country was hit by a massive earthquake that killed over 50,000 people. Citizens affected by the disaster expressed anger over the slow initial government response, but there is little evidence that this issue will affect the election. A day before poll, Erdogan accuses opposition of working with Biden On Saturday, President Erdogan held his last election rallies in Istanbul and accused the opposition of working with United States President Joe Biden to topple him. "Biden gave the order to topple Erdogan, I know this. All my people know this. If that is the case, then the ballots tomorrow will give a response to Biden too," Reuters quoted Erdogan as saying. Later, a spokesperson from the US State Department said that Turkey was a long-standing American ally and that Washington would be following the election closely. But the spokesperson said the US does not take sides in elections. "Our only interest is in the democratic process, which should be both free and fair. We trust that Turkish authorities will carry out the election in keeping with its long, proud democratic tradition and its laws," the spokesperson added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkey to vote in crucial election today. Will it unseat Erdogan after 20 years?

Turkey Election 2023: Turkey set for a three-way contest in Presidential polls

On Sunday, Turkish voters face a stark choice between two front-runners offering drastically different visions for the country in an election that has grave implications not just for the future of Turkish democracy, but some of the most pressing global issues today.

Elections in Turkey: The end of the Erdogan era?

Turkey election: Opposition dares to dream of Erdogan defeat

<p>Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the leader of the Republican People's Party and has emerged as the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the landmark elections. Kilicdaroglu has been the leader of the Main Opposition in the country since 2010.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the opinion surveys, Kilicdaroglu has a slight advantage and is very close to breaking the 50-per cent threshold, which is essential to avoid a runoff on May 28.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A third-party candidate, Muharrem Ince, withdrew from the presidential election this week, which came as a boost for the&nbsp;opposition as he was a threat to Kilicdaroglu's efforts to hand the Turkish leader his first national electoral defeat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ince's decision came after he was targeted by an online smear campaign, which allegedly contained doctored images of him meeting women and riding around in fancy cars. The shocking move has increased the chances of an opposition first-round victory.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Kemal Kilicdaroglu?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu is a Turkish economist and a retired civil servant.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kilicdaroglu was named the six-party opposition alliance's presidential candidate in March. For a very long time, he has been stuck in Erdogan's shadow and failed to come out since taking the centre-left CHP's reins in 2010.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A former civil servant, Kilicdaroglu entered parliament in 2002 with the CHP, which was established by modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and has struggled to reach beyond its secularist grassroots towards conservatives.</p>

<p>He has sought to grab the attention of voters who are apparently disillusioned by Erdogan's rhetoric and perceived economic mismanagement, promising economic prosperity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2009, he lost to Erdogan's ally in his bid to become mayor of Istanbul. He then lost every national election to the president's right-wing AKP. But this time, he is vying to become head of&nbsp;one of NATO's most strategic states.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Kilicdaroglu accuses Russia&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Kilicdaroglu even accused Russia of spreading "deep fakes" ahead of this weekend's crucial general election. He said on Twitter: "Dear Russian friends. You are behind the montages, conspiracies, deep fakes and tapes that were exposed in this country yesterday," he said without providing details.</p>

<p>"If you want our friendship after May 15, get your hands off the Turkish state. We are still in favour of cooperation and friendship," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Kremlin denied the allegations that it is meddling in the presidential election campaign. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "We strongly reject such statements. We officially declare: there can be no talk of any interference. If someone provided Mr Kilicdaroglu with such information, they are liars."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the leader of the Republican People's Party and has emerged as the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the landmark elections.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the leader of the Republican People's Party and has emerged as the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the landmark elections. Kilicdaroglu has been the leader of the Main Opposition in the country since 2010. According to the opinion surveys, Kilicdaroglu has a slight advantage and is very close to breaking the 50-per cent threshold, which is essential to avoid a runoff on May 28. A third-party candidate, Muharrem Ince, withdrew from the presidential election this week, which came as a boost for the opposition as he was a threat to Kilicdaroglu's efforts to hand the Turkish leader his first national electoral defeat. Ince's decision came after he was targeted by an online smear campaign, which allegedly contained doctored images of him meeting women and riding around in fancy cars. The shocking move has increased the chances of an opposition first-round victory. Who is Kemal Kilicdaroglu? The 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu is a Turkish economist and a retired civil servant. Kilicdaroglu was named the six-party opposition alliance's presidential candidate in March. For a very long time, he has been stuck in Erdogan's shadow and failed to come out since taking the centre-left CHP's reins in 2010. A former civil servant, Kilicdaroglu entered parliament in 2002 with the CHP, which was established by modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and has struggled to reach beyond its secularist grassroots towards conservatives. He has sought to grab the attention of voters who are apparently disillusioned by Erdogan's rhetoric and perceived economic mismanagement, promising economic prosperity. In 2009, he lost to Erdogan's ally in his bid to become mayor of Istanbul. He then lost every national election to the president's right-wing AKP. But this time, he is vying to become head of one of NATO's most strategic states. Kilicdaroglu accuses Russia Kilicdaroglu even accused Russia of spreading "deep fakes" ahead of this weekend's crucial general election. He said on Twitter: "Dear Russian friends. You are behind the montages, conspiracies, deep fakes and tapes that were exposed in this country yesterday," he said without providing details. "If you want our friendship after May 15, get your hands off the Turkish state. We are still in favour of cooperation and friendship," he added. Meanwhile, Kremlin denied the allegations that it is meddling in the presidential election campaign. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "We strongly reject such statements. We officially declare: there can be no talk of any interference. If someone provided Mr Kilicdaroglu with such information, they are liars." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkey election 2023: Who is Kemal Kilicdaroglu - the ‘main rival’ of Erdogan

<p>Turkey's third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday withdrew from the country's tight presidential election after the release of a purported sex tape, increasing the chances of the opposition's victory in the first round.</p>

<p>The decision was announced by the 59-year-old after he was targeted by an online smear campaign through which his doctored images were shared in which the minister was seen meeting women and riding around in luxurious cars.</p>

<p>The former school headteacher and longtime member of the Republican People’s party (CHP) claimed that alleged sex tape circulating online was a deepfake, using footage taken from “an Israeli porn site”.</p>

<p>“If I had such images of myself, they were taken secretly in the past. But I do not have such an image, no such sound recording. This is not my private life, it’s slander. It’s not real.” Ince was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper.</p>

<p>The secular nationalist leader had received 30.6 per cent of the vote when he had fought against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential elections of 2018.</p>

<p>The leader then quit the main opposition party and started his own movement which began to attract votes away from secular leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is the joint candidate of the anti-Erdogan bloc.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kilicdaroglu-leaves-erdogans-shadow-in-turkeys-election-campaign-589965">Kilicdaroglu leaves Erdogan's shadow in Turkey's election campaign</a></p>

<p>"I'm withdrawing my candidacy," Ince said while speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's voting. "I am doing this for my country,” he added.</p>

<p>Ince had faced ferocious criticism from the opposition for taking part in the campaign. Many people considered him a spoiler candidate who can only help Erdogan clinch a third decade of rule.</p>

<p>Ince counter-argued that he was offering a more vibrant alternative to voters compared to the 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu, whom he saw as a bookish former civil servant and someone who has lost multiple elections against Erdogan.</p>

<p>According to the last opinion polls, Kilicdaroglu was leading Erdogan by a few percentage points and was just a little away from breaking the 50-per-cent threshold which is required for a first-round win.</p>

<p>The popularity of Ince has been ebbing away after it touched around 15 per cent. The latest surveys showed the leader getting between two and four per cent of the vote.</p>

<p>However, that might not be enough to place Kilicdaroglu over the top. According to the Metropoll survey, around 30.5 per cent of Ince's support has moved to Kilicdaroglu and around 23.4 per cent went to Erdogan.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Turkey elections: President Erdogan holds election rally</strong></p>

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<p>Notably, the third-party candidate did not endorse any new candidate after he dropped out of the elections. His name will also appear on the presidential ballot even after he has left the race.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the fourth minor candidate Sinan Ogan is believed to have been attracting votes from Erdogan.</p>

<p>"Another crazy day in Turkish politics," remarked emerging markets economist Timothy Ash.</p>

<p>"Ince withdraws, with the assumption that most of his votes now go to Kilicdaroglu, making it possible/more likely of a (Kilicdaroglu) first-round win,” he added. For days, Kilicdaroglu has been appealing for Ince to formally back his candidacy.</p>

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Turkey's third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday withdrew from the country's tight presidential election after the release of a purported sex tape, increasing the chances of the opposition's victory in the first round.

Turkey's third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday withdrew from the country's tight presidential election after the release of a purported sex tape, increasing the chances of the opposition's victory in the first round. The decision was announced by the 59-year-old after he was targeted by an online smear campaign through which his doctored images were shared in which the minister was seen meeting women and riding around in luxurious cars. The former school headteacher and longtime member of the Republican People’s party (CHP) claimed that alleged sex tape circulating online was a deepfake, using footage taken from “an Israeli porn site”. “If I had such images of myself, they were taken secretly in the past. But I do not have such an image, no such sound recording. This is not my private life, it’s slander. It’s not real.” Ince was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper. The secular nationalist leader had received 30.6 per cent of the vote when he had fought against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential elections of 2018. The leader then quit the main opposition party and started his own movement which began to attract votes away from secular leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who is the joint candidate of the anti-Erdogan bloc. ALSO READ | Kilicdaroglu leaves Erdogan's shadow in Turkey's election campaign "I'm withdrawing my candidacy," Ince said while speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's voting. "I am doing this for my country,” he added. Ince had faced ferocious criticism from the opposition for taking part in the campaign. Many people considered him a spoiler candidate who can only help Erdogan clinch a third decade of rule. Ince counter-argued that he was offering a more vibrant alternative to voters compared to the 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu, whom he saw as a bookish former civil servant and someone who has lost multiple elections against Erdogan. According to the last opinion polls, Kilicdaroglu was leading Erdogan by a few percentage points and was just a little away from breaking the 50-per-cent threshold which is required for a first-round win. The popularity of Ince has been ebbing away after it touched around 15 per cent. The latest surveys showed the leader getting between two and four per cent of the vote. However, that might not be enough to place Kilicdaroglu over the top. According to the Metropoll survey, around 30.5 per cent of Ince's support has moved to Kilicdaroglu and around 23.4 per cent went to Erdogan. WATCH | Turkey elections: President Erdogan holds election rally Notably, the third-party candidate did not endorse any new candidate after he dropped out of the elections. His name will also appear on the presidential ballot even after he has left the race. Meanwhile, the fourth minor candidate Sinan Ogan is believed to have been attracting votes from Erdogan. "Another crazy day in Turkish politics," remarked emerging markets economist Timothy Ash. "Ince withdraws, with the assumption that most of his votes now go to Kilicdaroglu, making it possible/more likely of a (Kilicdaroglu) first-round win,” he added. For days, Kilicdaroglu has been appealing for Ince to formally back his candidacy. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Turkey's presidential candidate Ince drops out after release of 'sex tape'

<p>In a shocking development that may make things tough for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in upcoming elections, third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday (May 11) withdrew his candidacy from the presidential polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 59-year-old announced his decision after being targeted by an online smear campaign that included doctored images of him meeting women and riding around in fancy cars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The secular nationalist picked up 30.6 per cent of the vote when he challenged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2018 presidential polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Afterwards, he quit the main opposition party and launched his own movement that started pulling votes away from secular leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the joint candidate of the anti-Erdogan bloc.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I'm withdrawing my candidacy," Ince told reporters ahead of Sunday's vote.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am doing this for my country."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Turkey Election 2023: Stiff challenge to Erdogan's reign</strong></p>

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<p>He had faced ferocious criticism from the opposition for entering the election campaign. He was largely seen as a spoiler candidate whose presence in the election ring could only help Erdogan secure a third decade of rule.</p>

<p>Ince countered that he offered voters a more vibrant alternative to the 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu -- a bookish former civil servant, who lost a string of national elections against Erdogan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Latest opinion polls say that Kilicdaroglu is leading Erdogan by a few percentage points. He is falling just short of breaking the 50-per-cent threshold needed for a first-round victory.</p>

<p>Ince's popularity has been ebbing away after touching nearly 15 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest surveys showed him picking up between two and four per cent of the vote.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In a shocking development that may make things tough for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in upcoming elections, third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday (May 11) withdrew his candidacy from the presidential polls.

In a shocking development that may make things tough for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in upcoming elections, third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday (May 11) withdrew his candidacy from the presidential polls. The 59-year-old announced his decision after being targeted by an online smear campaign that included doctored images of him meeting women and riding around in fancy cars. The secular nationalist picked up 30.6 per cent of the vote when he challenged President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2018 presidential polls. Afterwards, he quit the main opposition party and launched his own movement that started pulling votes away from secular leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the joint candidate of the anti-Erdogan bloc. "I'm withdrawing my candidacy," Ince told reporters ahead of Sunday's vote. "I am doing this for my country." Watch | Turkey Election 2023: Stiff challenge to Erdogan's reign × He had faced ferocious criticism from the opposition for entering the election campaign. He was largely seen as a spoiler candidate whose presence in the election ring could only help Erdogan secure a third decade of rule. Ince countered that he offered voters a more vibrant alternative to the 74-year-old Kilicdaroglu -- a bookish former civil servant, who lost a string of national elections against Erdogan. Latest opinion polls say that Kilicdaroglu is leading Erdogan by a few percentage points. He is falling just short of breaking the 50-per-cent threshold needed for a first-round victory. Ince's popularity has been ebbing away after touching nearly 15 per cent. The latest surveys showed him picking up between two and four per cent of the vote. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Trouble for Erdogan? Third party candidate drops out of election race

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