Turkey’s Erdogan has been declared the victor of the country’s first presidential election under its year-old constitution. This victory consolidates Erdogan’s leadership of the country that started in 2002 as Prime Minister. Second-place challenger from the center-left party received a reported 30.75% of the vote. Opposition has decried Erdogan’s increasingly autocratic rule and there were report of fraud and intimidation on election day, especially in the Kurdish areas of the east and southeast. Erdogan’s continuation reflects a broader international trend that many have identified in which democratic institutions are weakened by long tenures of powerful executives.
Source: Erdogan’s victory in Turkish election expands his powers | Asia Times
