Turkey’s Erdogan: I’ll step down if I lose Sunday poll

Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says he will accept Sunday’s election results and step down if he loses, refuting concerns that he may not leave power.

Erdogan gave assurance on Saturday, May 13, in reaction to the question whether he will cling to power if he loses.

“A very ridiculous question… We come to power through democratic means in Turkey… If our nation decides otherwise, I will do what democracy requires, there is nothing else to do,” the President added.

Erdogan therefore said his bloc will respect “any results coming out of the ballot box”.

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He advised the opposition to deploy people to monitor the election, adding that if the opposition is concerned about electoral safety, they should monitor all polling stations and “ensure safety” just as his party members do.

“The will of the nation cannot be compromised,” Erdogan added.

The Turkish President believes that he will be re-elected for another term as well as secure parliamentary majority on Sunday.

After 20 years at the helm of Turkey, Erdogan faces his toughest election test amid public resentment over economic troubles, and the handling of February earthquakes and about  3.5 million Syrian refugees.

A united opposition candidate, Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, is polling slightly ahead.

The Star