President Erdogan Wins Reelection After a Close Battle
Effectively a Lifetime Rule Lasting Up to 30 Years
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey, has sparked controversy after a video captured him distributing cash to a crowd in front of a polling station.
On the 29th (local time), British daily The Telegraph and other foreign media reported that a video showing President Erdogan handing out 200 lira bills, equivalent to about 13,000 Korean won, to people in front of a polling station the previous day was spreading on social media.
On the 29th (local time), British daily The Telegraph and other foreign media reported that President Erdogan was seen distributing 200 lira bills, equivalent to about 13,000 won, to people in front of a polling station the day before, with the video spreading on social media. [Photo by Twitter]
At the time, President Erdogan had just finished voting at a polling station set up at a school in the Uskudar district of Istanbul. Foreign media reported that he acted this way after supporters shouted "Our President."
Although there was controversy over the act being illegal, Turkey's election authorities did not comment on the matter and stated that there were no serious legal violations during the runoff voting period.
Meanwhile, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which monitored the Turkish presidential election process, evaluated in its final report that the runoff voting was conducted well and provided voters with a genuine political choice.
However, it judged that political polarization deepened due to the rampant use of inflammatory and discriminatory language during the election campaign period.
Earlier, President Erdogan won re-election after a fierce contest that went to a runoff. With this victory, Erdogan can effectively maintain de facto lifelong rule for up to 30 years, from his first term starting in 2003 until 2033.
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