Erdogan ahead with one-third of votes counted: media

Ankara, May 15:-- Initial results of Türkiye's presidential election on Sunday showed incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead with 52.9 percent of votes compared to opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu with 41.2 percent, according to the unofficial preliminary results.

Nearly 38 percent of the ballot boxes are opened, and the gap between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu is narrowing as more votes are counted, said the report.

If no presidential candidate wins over 50 percent of the vote, a runoff vote will be held on May 28.

Sunday's presidential and parliamentary elections are one of the most consequential events that could either stretch incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's tenure into a third term or set Türkiye on a new course.

The voter turnout was noticeably high as electorates formed long queues in polling stations across the country.

International observers were deployed across the country, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe mission.

Some 61 million voters are registered to cast their ballots. Ahead of the elections, more than 1.76 million Turks abroad have cast their votes at diplomatic missions and customs gates between April 27 and May 9.

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