Erdogan claims victory, Putin congratulates him – RT in French

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed victory in the second round of the presidential election in Turkey. Anadolu Agency reports that he won 52.1% of the vote against 47.9% for Kiliçdaroglu after counting almost 99% of the vote

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed victory in the second round of the presidential election in Turkey.

“Our nation has entrusted us with the responsibility of governing the country for the next five years,” he said on the roof of a bus in front of his Istanbul residence, towards which an enthusiastic crowd converged.

“We will keep all our promises made to the people”, launched the head of state, in power for twenty years, affirming that “each election is a rebirth”. “This election has shown that no one can attack the achievements of this nation,” he continued.

According to the official Turkish Anadolu agency, Erdogan, in power for twenty years, won 52.1% of the vote, against 47.9% for his opponent Kemal Kiliçdaroglu after counting nearly 99% of the vote.

Putin congratulates Erdogan

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his congratulations to the Turkish President, hailing the natural result of his “efforts to strengthen state sovereignty and pursue an independent foreign policy”, and declaring that he appreciated the “personal contribution [d’Erdogan] strengthening friendly Russian-Turkish relations” and attaching “great importance to the consistent implementation of planned joint projects, primarily the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and the creation of a gas hub in Turkey”.