Turkey’s Opposition Rallies After Close Election, Faces Uphill Runoff Battle

Ankara, Turkey: A high-stakes presidential race is headed to a runoff after neither President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan nor opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu secured an outright majority. Erdoğan led with around 49.5% of the vote, just shy of victory. Kılıçdaroğlu’s bloc, a broad coalition aiming to unseat the longtime incumbent, must regroup fast before the May 28 runoff. Observers note strong parliamentary results for Erdoğan’s party, complicating the opposition’s hope for sweeping change. With inflation soaring and democratic norms under scrutiny, the runoff will shape Turkey’s path forward.