Erdoğan supporters take to Turkish streets to celebrate victory

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's supporters took to streets to celebrate election victory over opposition bloc's candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu across Türkiye as unofficial election council results show him leading in the historic presidential runoff. Close to the headquarters of the ruling AK Party, there was music blasting onto the streets from loudspeakers and those who back the president were confident he would prevail. Uğur Özgün, 42, travelled with his wife and daughter to Ankara from Konya, 265 kilometres south of Ankara, to join celebrations at the AKP headquarters, trusting that incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will win. Asked whether he fears divisions in Turkish society, he said, 'There is no polarization, but anti-Erdoğan sentiment at all costs.' Türkiye 'will continue to rise just as it did for the past 21 years,' under Erdoğan, while the economy is in good shape, he said. Views differed on the economy, with 22-year-old Yunus Emre Ayrancı saying, 'Our economy is in bad shape but Erdoğan is the best option.' 'I first wanted to vote for Kılıçdaroğlu but didn't find his political plans convincing.' He chose Erdoğan as he is 'accustomed to' his leadership, he added. The streets were lined with people, with adults and children alike walking, chanting and honking their horns and waving flags showing the colours of Türkiye, the AK Party and MHP flags. Ayşe Yıldır, 46 years old, affirmed her support for the long-time leader. 'We are always behind him, support him [Erdoğan] until the end,' she says, holding a red and white Turkish flag. She said the economy has improved, compared to previous years. Mahmud Ubeyd, a 22-year-old Syrian from Damascus who has been in Ankara for the past decade, said he had not voted. On an announcement by the opposition that Syrians would be expelled from Türkiye, he said Erdoğan's victory would be a 'very good' result for Türkiye, 'for the youth' and for 'all Muslims.' 'Never mind us, but [good] for Islam,' he said.