On June 24, 2018, Turkey held its presidential and parliamentary elections. The presidential election saw incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeking re-election against a crowded field of opposition candidates. However, none of the candidates were able to secure the required 50% plus one vote in the first round, leading to a runoff election between Erdogan and the runner-up, Muharrem Ince.
The runoff election was held on July 8, 2018, and Erdogan emerged as the winner with 52.6% of the vote. The election was significant for Turkey as it marked a transition from a parliamentary system to a presidential one, with the president gaining more powers.
The requirement for a runoff election in Turkey’s presidential election is not new. In fact, it has been in place since 1961 when the country first held direct presidential elections. The requirement for a runoff is aimed at ensuring that the president has a clear mandate from the people and that there is no doubt about their legitimacy.
The runoff election is held two weeks after the first round, giving candidates time to campaign and make their case to voters. In the second round, only the two candidates with the highest number of votes in the first round are eligible to run. This ensures that voters have a clear choice between two candidates who have already demonstrated their support among the electorate.
The requirement for a runoff election is not unique to Turkey. Many countries, including France, Brazil, and Colombia, also require a second round of voting if no candidate secures a majority in the first round. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the winning candidate has broad-based support and is not simply elected by a minority of voters.
The Turkish presidential election was closely watched by international observers, who raised concerns about the fairness of the election. The opposition accused Erdogan of using state resources to campaign and of limiting media coverage of opposition candidates. Despite these concerns, the election was deemed to be free and fair by international observers.
The runoff election in Turkey’s presidential election was a significant moment in the country’s history. It marked a transition to a new system of government and demonstrated the importance of ensuring that the president has broad-based support among the electorate. While there were concerns about the fairness of the election, the fact that a second round of voting was required ensured that the winning candidate had a clear mandate from the people.
