Türkiye election: President Erdogan ahead of opponent Kilicdaroglu

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gained 51.4 per cent of the vote, with the only opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu receiving 48.6 per cent.

This follows from the pre-election poll of the Optimar research centre, Hürriyet newspaper reports.

According to the publication, the survey was conducted among 3,005 people from April 25 to 28.

Both candidates have been on the rise in the last 10 days. Erdogan has recovered from the quake downturn and has remained on the rise for two weeks now. In turn, Kılıcdaroglu became the second candidate with an increased number of votes.

A poll covering all four candidates produced the following results: Erdogan 48.6 per cent, Kılıcdaroğlu 44.1 per cent, Muharrem Ince 4.3 per cent, and Sinan Ogan 3 per cent.

The forecasts regarding the elections come down to the fact that there will be a second round.

“Erdogan, who managed to raise the percentage of his vote above 48 per cent two weeks before the elections, can get the two-point increase needed for the first round, as Erdogan has remained on the rise for some time now. His votes are rising, not diminishing. This may allow him to take a leading position in the first round,” the newspaper's columnist Abdulkadir Selvi wrote.

Presidential and parliamentary elections in Türkiye are scheduled for May 14. The final list of candidates includes the incumbent head of state Erdogan as a candidate from the Republican Alliance, a candidate from the opposition People's Alliance Kılıcdaroğlu, as well as the leader of the Memleket Party, Muharrem Ince and a candidate from the Ata Alliance, Sinan Ogan. The second round of elections, in case none of the candidates receives more than 50 per cent of the votes, will be held on May 28.