Lira and Erdogan Both Win: First Turkish President Directly Elected

Lira and Erdogan Both Win: First Turkish President Directly Elected

Turkey's Recep Tayip Erdogan has just won the presidential elections leading to a boost to the lira. The Turkish lira was battling the weakening effects of the Iraq and Syria conflicts as well as the Ukraine crisis. Erdogan's main rival Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglue managed around 38% of the votes while Kurish candidate Seahattin Demirtas garnered less than 10% of the votes. Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was Turkey's PM till now has been elected in the nation's first direct presidential elections in the first round after having gained more than 50% of the vote according to the Turkish election board. Erdogan will now remain Turkey's president till 2019 for another 5 years. "The provisional results show that Erdogan has the majority of the valid votes," High Election Board chairman Sadi Guven has been quoted as having said in a news conference at capital Ankara. He also added that"We have received more than 99 percent [of the votes]. Tomorrow we will announce the provisional results."

Erodogan addressed his supporters following his victory and he is quoted as having said "Today national will and democracy have prevailed again… Today, greater Turkey has prevailed again... With the president being elected by popular vote, obstacles between Cankaya [the presidential palace] and the public have been lifted". He also added that "Our political views, lifestyles, beliefs and ethnicities can be different, but we are all offspring of this country. We are all owners of this state... I will embrace all 70 million [Turks] as president."

The vote has been viewed as a milestone for Turkey's Erdogan as this is the first direct presidential elections for the nation. Up till now , presidents have been elected by the parliament. Erdogan received 52% of the votes after 99% of the votes had been counted, state-run Anatolia news agency has indicated. But the Turkish presidential elections has not been without its share of controversies. The Turkish leader has been accused of using state resources to fund his campaign. Erdogan's opponents have protested that he has undermined the secular norms of the country. His supporters are declaring him to be a charismatic leader. Erdogan now has the power to promulgate laws or return them to the parliament for reconsideration purposes. The president can also call for public referendums and new parliamentary elections. He now has the power to appoint the PM as well as ministers and key bureaucrats. Erdogan has dominated Turkish politics since the year 2002. He talked about infrastructure projects and new reforms for economy as well as foreign policy moves. Ihsanoglu stressed unity and neutrality.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), an international security and rights organisation, has criticised Erdogan on account of usage of state media and state resources for gaining vote share. Erdogan has chosen to stress on the gains for the people following his victory. At his party headquarters in Ankara, Erdogan also called for societal reconciliation . "Without a doubt, new Turkey, great Turkey, leading Turkey has won today. We are closing the doors on one era, and we are now taking our first step to a new phase," Mr. Erdogan said. "We will face down whoever threatens our national security." Erdogan was born in Kasimpasa and his political career began from Istanbul. Erdogan is now being likened to Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as being one of the most powerful leaders of Turkey.