US calls on Turkey to 'strengthen democracy' after Erdogan win

The US has called on Turkey to "strengthen democracy" after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured the presidency with a majority vote.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan waves to celebrating supporters

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Source: AAP

The White House has urged Turkey to "take steps to strengthen democracy" after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a decisive election victory that gave him sweeping new powers.

"We're working to set up a call between the (US) president and the president of Turkey to reaffirm our strong bond," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters.

"We encourage Turkey to take steps to strengthen democracy and continue progress toward resolving issues in the bilateral relationship."
A night of triumph for Erdogan saw the man who has dominated Turkey for the last 15 years declared winner of Sunday's presidential poll without needing a second round and take his ruling party-led alliance to an overall majority in parliament.

Erdogan vowed to "rapidly" implement the new presidential system approved in an April 2017 referendum that opponents fear will give him autocratic powers and keep him in office for two five-year mandates to 2028.

The new system puts Erdogan at the top, giving him the power to appoint cabinet ministers and dispensing with the office of prime minister.

The president, 64, declared victory in Istanbul before returning to Ankara to deliver a triumphant speech at 3:00 am to tens of thousands of supporters from the balcony of the headquarters of his Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Turkey has given a lesson in democracy to the entire world," he added, pointing to a turnout of 88 per cent.

Erdogan's main rival accepted the outcome despite complaints over an unequal campaign that alarmed the EU.


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Source: AFP, SBS



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