Turkey’s MHP leader hails election victory

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader on Sunday hailed the election victory of the People's Alliance on Turkey’s “historic day”.

Speaking to reporters in capital Ankara, Devlet Bahceli declared the alliance of the ruling Justice and Development Party and the MHP had won the polls with “honor”.

Bahceli said the People's Alliance won the presidential election in the first round, leaving those expecting a crisis “bewildered”.

He also praised the high turnout in the elections.

“As of today, Turkey has officially moved into a [new] presidential system,” he said.

The Turkish nation has seen its future in the new presidential system, Bahceli said, adding: “Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become the first president of the new system.”

According to unofficial results, 97.95 percent of ballots have been counted, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- the candidate of the AK Party and MHP -- bagging 52.53 percent votes in the presidential race.

The People’s Alliance also apparently secured a parliamentary majority with a combined vote of 53.59 percent.

Earlier on Sunday evening, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared victory in Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections.