UPDATES WITH MORE CONGRATULATIONS
By Burak Bir and Beyza Binnur Donmez
ANKARA (AA) – World leaders on Sunday took to social media to congratulate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is enjoying a clear lead in the presidential runoff towards his reelection.
"My dear brother, congratulations on your victory, and I wish you success in your new term, and that you achieve in it what the brotherly Turkish people aspire to in terms of progress and prosperity," Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said on Twitter.
Hungarian President Katalin Novak also congratulated Erdogan, saying she is looking forward to working on strengthening their bilateral partnership.
"Türkiye's stability is crucial for Europe, and it can play an important role in achieving peace in Ukraine," she added on Twitter.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban also congratulated President Erdogan "on his unquestionable election victory!"
"Congratulations brotherly and friendly Türkiye," tweeted the office of Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. “I extend heartfelt congratulations to my brother, President @RTErdogan, on his successful re-election!” said Hamza Abdi Barre, Somalia’s prime minister. “This demonstrates the trust and support for your leadership. We look forward to seeing the bonds between our two brotherly nations grow and our nations prosper.”
- ‘A world leader with politics anchored in public service’
In a congratulatory note, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Erdogan as "one of few world leaders whose politics has been anchored in public service."
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev also congratulated Erdogan on his reelection in a phone call and invited him to pay a visit to the Azerbaijani capital Baku.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Shtayyeh congratulated the Turkish president and Turkish people on their "election victory."
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh said Erdogan's victory shows the renewal of people's confidence in his successful projects and policies.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also congratulated Erdogan and the Turkish nation on their election victory.
In a phone call with Erdogan, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated the Turkish president.
Montenegro's President Milo Dukanovic congratulated Erdogan and wished for further progress in bilateral relations.
Georgia's President Irakli Garibanhvili congratulated his "great friend" Erdogan "on his convincing re-election as the leader of Türkiye."
"We are eager to further enhance the bonds of friendship & strategic partnership," he said on Twitter.
-'Historic victory'
Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik congratulated Erdogan's "historical victory" in the country's first-ever presidential run-off.
"Voters again elected you as their leader! This decision of the voters is not important for the Republic of Turkiye only, but for the world!" he said on Twitter.
Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune was also among leaders congratulating the Turkish presidents on his reelection "victory."
Erdogan is leading in the runoff election with 53.41% of the vote, while opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu has 46.59%, with 75.42% of the votes counted, according to Ahmet Yener, chairman of the Supreme Election Council (YSK).
More than 64.1 million Turkish citizens were registered to vote, including over 1.92 million who earlier cast their ballots at overseas polling stations.
Nearly 192,000 ballot boxes were set up for voters across Türkiye.
On May 14, no candidate won the required 50% in the first round, triggering the presidential runoff, although Erdogan took the lead with 49.52%. On that day Erdogan’s electoral alliance also won a majority of seats in parliament.
*With contributions from Anadolu Agency's worldwide network of correspondents