Erdogan declares victory in Istanbul speech

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has almost certainly been elected president for a third term, is addressing a crowd of supporters in Istanbul.

Though this is in essence a victory speech, he says “the winner of this election is all 85 million strong the Turkish nation”, and that he has been given responsibility to rule for the next five years.

“We successfully completed the runoff elections. I thank my nation,” Erdogan says.

“I thank every citizen who expressed his or her will through the ballot box. I thank every member of my party. I will be deserving your confidence as I have in the past.”

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters following early results for the second round of the presidential election in Istanbul (Reuters)

The crowd are chanting “bye, bye Kemal”, taunting opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Erdogan adds another “bye” to that: “Bye, bye, bye Kemal”.

He also asks the crowd for their support in the 2024 local elections, and once again declares the CHP, HDP, IYI Party and remaining right-wing parties pro-LGBT. Echoing the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric he pursued ahead of the first round, Erdogan says “LGBT cannot infiltrate” his Justice and Development Party (AKP).

“No one can touch the family and no one can use violence against women,” he says.