British media covers Erdoğan’s election success

The British media has given wide coverage to the electoral success of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party.

The BBC News, Sky News and the Guardian Newspaper were the first among British media to report the unofficial results of the Turkish presidential and parliamentary elections.

“Turkey's long-standing leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan says unofficial results from the presidential elections show he has won outright in the first round,” the BBC said in its first statement.

Mr. Erdogan has 53 percent, while his closest rival, Muharrem Ince, is on 31 percent, state media report, with most votes counted, it added.

The Guardian said: “Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has claimed victory in Turkey’s presidential election”, adding: “But the opposition has not conceded defeat, as not all ballots have been counted.”

Erdogan says he has been returned as president of Turkey, according to unofficial results, reported Sky News.

“But the main opposition, the Republican People's Party, said Mr. Erdogan could still fall short of the 50% needed to avoid a presidential runoff on 8 July,” it added.

Earlier on Sunday, President Erdogan declared his success in Turkey's historic presidential and parliamentary elections.

According to unofficial results, Erdogan received 52.5 percent votes with over 97 percent of ballots counted.

The AK Party-MHP People’s Alliance secured a combined vote of 53.5 percent in the parliament.