Erdogan extends two-decade rule as Turkey President after win in historic runoff polls
Istanbul: Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday appealed to the people to maintain national unity, after winning a historic election and retaining the seat till 2028.
Erdogan won with a 52 per cent majority in the elections, beating his secular opposition challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu by four per cent points.
Erdogan, aged 69 years, has been President of Turkey for two decades and overcame the nation’s worst economic crisis in a generation. He also faced the most powerful opposition alliance against his party, which is rooted in Islam, while fighting the election, reports NDTV.
People expressed their delight at the President’s victory, coming out on the streets and sounding their jubilation.
With huge crowds of supporters gathering all over Turkey, the traffic on Taksim Square, a major point in Istanbul, came to a halt.
Erdogan, meanwhile, led a horde of supporters in celebratory song outside his palace in Ankara.
The President told the crowd that was chanting and waving flags, “We should come together in unity and solidarity. We call for this with all our heart.”
Seventeen-year-old Nisa Sivaslioglu said, “Our people chose the right man. I expect Erdogan to add more to the good things he has already done for our country.”
Messages of congratulation also poured in from across the world.
US President Joe Biden tweeted, “I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges.”
UN head Antonio Guterres said through a spokesperson that he ‘looked forward to further strengthening the cooperation between Turkiye and the United Nations’.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, said that the outcome of the elections reflected the support from the people for Erdogan’s efforts to strengthen the sovereignty of the nation and to pursue an independent foreign policy.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky expressed a hope of continuing to work with Erdogan ‘for the security and stability of Europe’.
Other leaders from across the world, including former US President Donald Trump congratulated Erdogan on his victory.
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
