Turkey's 2023 presidential election was the first in the country's history to go to a runoff, resulting in Erdoğan's re-election to a third term.
Key Facts
- Eligible voters
- 64 million (60.9M domestic, 3.2M abroad)
- First round — Erdoğan
- 49.5%
- First round — Kılıçdaroğlu
- 44.9%
- Runoff — Erdoğan (winner)
- 52.2%
- Runoff date
- 28 May 2023
- Erdoğan consecutive election wins
- 11 (since 1994 Istanbul mayoral race)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Rising cost of living, criticism of the government's handling of the February 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake that killed over 50,000 people, and prior land amnesties that critics said left buildings more vulnerable fuelled strong opposition sentiment. The Nation Alliance united six opposition parties behind CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to challenge incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Presidential and parliamentary elections were held on 14 May 2023. No candidate secured an outright majority in the first round — Erdoğan received 49.5% and Kılıçdaroğlu 44.9% — triggering Turkey's first-ever presidential runoff on 28 May 2023. Minor candidate Sinan Oğan's subsequent endorsement of Erdoğan contributed to the incumbent's runoff victory with 52.2% of the vote.
Erdoğan was re-elected for a third presidential term, extending his dominance over Turkish politics to nearly three decades. Kılıçdaroğlu's narrow defeat led to his removal as CHP leader in November 2023, reshaping the main opposition party's direction.
Political Outcome
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (AK Party / People's Alliance) re-elected president with 52.2% in the runoff, defeating Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (CHP / Nation Alliance).
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey (AK Party)
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan re-elected for a third presidential term (AK Party)