All articles tagged with #presidential runoff
In a surprising turn of events in Romania's presidential election, ultranationalist candidate Călin Georgescu is poised to advance to the runoff against center-left Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. Georgescu's unexpected surge highlights a significant shift in the political landscape, as he represents a hard-right faction previously considered fringe.
In the Romanian election, a reformist candidate is poised to defeat a hard-right leader and advance to the presidential runoff. This development is part of a broader political landscape where Western nations are navigating complex geopolitical challenges, including France's stance on military aid to Ukraine and the UK's concerns over Russian cyber threats to NATO. Additionally, the UK is seeking to improve post-Brexit relations with the EU, while NATO members express concerns about potential destabilization under the U.S. president-elect.
Millions of people are voting in Turkey's presidential runoff election, which could solidify President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's hold on power and Turkey's influence in NATO, the Middle East, and the war in Ukraine.
Polls have opened in Turkey for the presidential runoff between President Erdogan and opposition leader Kilicdaroglu. Erdogan fell short of the 50% threshold needed to win in the first round of voting on May 14. Many polls had incorrectly predicted that Kilicdaroglu would lead in the first round. The opposition has described the election as a last stand for Turkish democracy, accusing Erdogan of hollowing out the country’s democratic institutions during his 20-year rule, eroding the power of the judiciary and repressing dissent. Erdogan also faces headwinds from a floundering economy and a shambolic initial response to a catastrophic earthquake on February 6 which claimed more than 50,000 lives in Turkey and neighboring Syria.
Turkish President Erdogan is positioned to extend his rule into a third decade after winning the first round of the presidential runoff with a nearly five-point lead over his rival Kilicdaroglu. The election will decide not only who leads Turkey but also how it is governed, where its economy is headed, and the shape of its foreign policy. Erdogan's strong showing defied polls and hit the opposition mood, while the nationalist vote was split by different endorsements. Critics fear Erdogan's rule will lead to a "one-man regime."