Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan overcame the toughest challenge to his 15-year rule with a decisive victory in high-stakes double snap elections that will give him sweeping new powers.   

The Supreme Election Council declared Erdogan the winner early Monday, hours after he had announced his victory based on unofficial results.   

“The results show Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan gained an absolute majority of valid votes,” YSK chief Sadi Guven said, according to state news agency Anadolu.   

Around 97.7 per cent of votes had been counted and the remaining votes would not affect the result, he added.   

Presidential and legislative polls were held simultaneously for the first time in Turkey’s history on Sunday, pitting the strongman leader who has transformed the country’s political system against a resurgent opposition warning of “one-man rule.”  The election completes the country’s transition to an executive presidency. The new system, which narrowly passed in a constitutional referendum in April 2017, will abolish the prime minister’s post and the president will become both the head of state and government.   

For Erdogan, installing an executive presidency has been his years-long ambition and he staked his career on it by calling the elections 18 months early. 
Ankara (dpa),
Jun 25 2018