Erdogan wins five more years as Turkey's president

1. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won another five years in power in Turkey's election
2. Officials say he won 52.16% of the votes in a near-complete count
3. His secular rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, says the election was unfair
4. Erdogan became Turkish prime minister in 2003 and president in 2014
5. In a victory speech to thousands of supporters in Ankara, he said: "Turkey has won", and ridiculed his opponent
6. Erdogan's supporters celebrated on the streets well into the night and foreign leaders sent congratulations

WATCH: Erdogan sings to supporters from top of bus

Earlier, we reported on incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greeting supporters in his home city of Istanbul.

The 69-year-old thanked many as they waved flags below.

Erdogan even burst into song for them - have a listen!

Erdogan sings to supporters from top of bus

Zelensky congratulates Erdogan

While we wait for Recep Tayyip Erdogan to speak, we can bring you more international reaction, this time from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky says he counts on "strengthening" ties between Ukraine and Turkey.

Writing on Twitter, Zelensky says: "We hope to develop our co-operation for the security and stability of Europe and further strengthen our strategic partnership for the benefit of our countries."

Turkey has tried to position itself as a peace broker between Russia and Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Earlier, Vladimir Putin also sent warm congratulations to the Turkish leader.

BreakingErdogan arrives at presidential palace

Newly re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has now arrived at the presidential palace in Ankara and is expected to address his supporters shortly.

WATCH: Defeated Kilicdaroglu says election unfair

After voting closed but before his defeat was confirmed, Kemal Kilicdaroglu spoke to supporters in Ankara...

Kilicdaroglu says Turkish election unfair

WATCH: The backstory to Erdogan's empire

Growing up at a time of chronic political turbulence in Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined an Islamist party, becoming hugely popular as mayor of Istanbul.

In the 1990s, Turkish politics was bitterly divided on the question of religion and politics, so when the party Erdogan belonged to was shut down, Erdogan was jailed and banned from being an MP for life.

But in prison, Erdogan plotted an astonishing comeback, creating a new, more moderate party which swept him to power...

• Watch this detailed lookback at Erdogan's life on BBC iPlayer

Supporters await Erdogan speech at presidential palace

Ece Göksedef

Live reporter in Ankara

BBC

President Erdogan has now arrived in the capital, Ankara, where he is expected to make a victory speech at the presidential palace.

As his supporters wait for him under the palace balcony, behind the fences in front of the palace, some people have been carried away with the help of police because they fainted.

And a presidential palace worker announces on the microphone that there are a number of children lost and call for people to help find them in the crowds.

It's official: Erdogan is president for five more years

Paul Kirby

Europe digital editor in Ankara

Someone told me it would take a miracle for Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 2.5 million vote lead in the first round to be overturned in just two weeks.

It didn't happen. Erdogan will remain president for another five years and he has control of parliament too, weakened as it is under his sweeping executive powers.

In truth even Kemal Kilicdaroglu allies didn't really think he could do it. But the opposition leader couldn't bring himself to admit defeat even when it was obvious.

The problem Erdogan's opponents have is that the president's AK Party has been in power for 21 years and it has harnessed the reins of the state to get behind the president.

They came closer than ever before, but not close enough.

Turkey’s most powerful leader since Ataturk

Ece Göksedef

Live reporter in Ankara

Reuters

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a former commander in the Ottoman army, founded the modern Republic of Turkey in 1923 based on a strict secular rule, a difficult task for a traditionally conservative society.

Since then, the army has toppled four different governments which they saw as a threat to secularism.

For decades, the conservative portion of the country, devoted to Islamic values, felt a strong sense of oppression from the state.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who himself went to jail for threatening the secular state in 1999, has very slowly changed this strict secular rule since he came to power in 2003.

And he has gained something like unconditional support from the conservative sections of society.

As he strengthened his position, he imposed more religious laws, as well as granting himself more authority.

He was first prime minister, then became president in 2014, reacting to a failed 2016 coup by dramatically increasing his powers.

BreakingErdogan wins election - Supreme Election Council

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won the presidential run-off and has been re-elected as Turkish president, according to the head of Turkey's Supreme Election Council (YSK).

YSK Chairman Ahmet Yener officially announced the election results, stating that Erdogan was elected as the new president with 52.14% of the votes.

"Even if all of the results that have not been entered into the system yet go to a presidential candidate, the results will not change."

With 99.43% of ballot boxes opened, Erdogan's rival Kilicdaroglu received 47.86% of the votes, Yener added.

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Macron congratulates Erdogan

We now have more international reaction from world leaders, this time from French President Emmanuel Macron.

He tweets: "There are great challenges that France and Turkey have to face together.

"The return of peace to Europe, the future of our Euro-Atlantic alliance, the Mediterranean sea.

"With President Erdogan, whom I congratulate on his re-election, we will continue to move forward."

Erdogan shares deep bond with supporters, but Turkey remains deeply polarised country

Orla Guerin

Reporting from Ankara

There is a deep bond between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his supporters - they see him as a family member, almost like a father figure.

People are bonded to him, come what may, even with official inflation at more than 40%.

But this result is not a ringing endorsement for a leader who has had control of all of the levers of power in Turkey for 20 years.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu certainly has given Recep Tayyip Erdogan a run for his money.

There will be many tonight who will be bitterly disappointed as this was very much seen as the best chance for the opposition.

Although, at this stage, it is a night of celebration for Erdogan, Turkey remains a deeply divided and deeply polarised country.

At the presidential palace: Tired children, happy parents

Ece Göksedef

Live reporter in Ankara

Here in Ankara, crowds are waiting for an expected appearance from Erdogan.

One child tells her mother that she is very tired, and her mother replies: “There could be a celebration in front of [the opposition] CHP building now - we should thank God and stay here to support.

"We are here for much longer, hang in there.”

Some people are complaining about how crowded it is. One woman gets angry, and says they have been waiting for this moment for two weeks.

"Of course it is crowded," she shouts. "It should be crowded!”

BreakingPutin congratulates Erdogan on victory

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his apparent re-election, according to the Kremlin.

"The election victory was a natural result of your selfless work as the head of the Republic of Turkey, clear evidence of the support of the Turkish people for your efforts to strengthen state sovereignty and conduct an independent foreign policy," Putin's letter said.

Erdogan and Putin have been long-time allies, and Turkey has been more neutral on the Russian invasion of Ukraine compared to its Nato allies.

BreakingKilicdaroglu gives fiery speech - without explicitly admitting defeat

Reuters

Erdogan's challenger has launched a fiery speech - condemning President Erdogan's authoritarian government and what he called an unfair election.

"You should know that we will stand against those difficulties awaiting us," he says.

What he didn't do was admit defeat - even if the results are all heading in that direction.

He thanked the 25 million Turks who voted for him, to loud cheers in the auditorium. "Stand up, and walk proudly," he said.

BreakingErdogan rival about to speak

Kemal Kilicdaroglu has just taken the stage at opposition headquarters in Ankara.

Latest unofficial results suggest he's four points behind Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential run-off with most votes counted.

Recap: Erdogan on verge of five more years

EPA

• Long-time Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared victory in Turkey's presidential election run-off, as supporters gather in the streets waving flags and blaring horns
• Official results show Erdogan roughly 4% points ahead of his challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu with most votes counted
• On Sunday evening, from the top of a bus in Istanbul, Erdogan told jubilant supporters Turkey itself was the only winner
• We are yet to hear from Kilicdaroglu, so stay with us as we get all the latest developments into the evening

WATCH: Erdogan supporters celebrate in Ankara

Turkey election: Joyous Erdogan supporters take to the streets in Ankara

Security tight around the palace

Ece Göksedef

Live reporter in Ankara

The security is tight at the entrance of the presidential palace here in Ankara.

Hundreds of supporters were hoping to get in to listen to Erdogan’s speech when he arrives later, but the queue is not moving.

Now people are set to stay here to be able to get a glimpse of Erdogan - albeit from very far away.

BBC

BBC

Bye Bye, Kemal: Erdogan taunts his rival

Paul Kirby

Europe digital editor in Ankara

Emrah Yorulmaz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

We're still waiting for Kemal Kilicdaroglu to respond to the results which are heading just one way - in Recep Tayyip Erdogan's words, to another five years of his rule.

"The only winner is Turkey," he told cheering supporters on top of a bus in Istanbul.

And it was clear he had little time for his rival either: "Bye, Bye, Kemal," he taunted him.

Erdogan also returned to a favourite theme of his campaign, accusing opposition parties of embracing pro-LGBT policies.

That's a nod to his religious conservative base, but it's hardly a magnanimous speech for a man on course for a quarter of a century in power.

And while he insisted he had won a victory for 85 million Turks, it is clear that this country is deeply polarised, almost down the middle.

Erdogan will lead the world - joyous supporter

Ece Göksedef

Live reporter in Ankara

BBC

Next here in Ankara, I stop to speak with Ali Talip and Ayse who came out to celebrate Erdogan's apparent victory in front of the palace.

They are here with their neighbours and children.

Ayse tells me: “We had no doubt, we were ready to go out tonight with all the snacks for the kids.

"I am happy for the future of my kids," Ali Talip, her husband, tells me.

Our leader will lead the world in the next five years, all the world will be jealous of us.”

Ali Talip