“I thank every single one of our people who once again gave us the responsibility to govern the country five more years,” he said.

He acknowledged that inflation was the most urgent issue, but said it would also fall, following the central bank’s policy rate that was cut to 8.5 per cent from 19 per cent two years ago.

Erdogan’s victory extends his tenure as the longest-serving leader since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk established modern Turkey from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire a century ago, a politically potent anniversary to be marked in October with Erdogan in charge.

Erdogan, head of the Islamist-rooted AK Party, appealed to voters with nationalist and conservative rhetoric during a divisive campaign that deflected attention from deep economic troubles.

In his victory speech, he attacked the opposition again, calling them pro-LGBT.

Kilicdaroglu, who had promised to set the country on a more democratic and collaborative path, said the vote showed people’s will to change an authoritarian government. “All the means of the state were laid at the feet of one man,” he said.

‘Sad and disappointed’

Erdogan supporters, who gathered outside his Istanbul residence, chanted Allahu Akbar, or God is Greatest.

“I expect everything to become better,” said Nisa, 28, a headscarved woman wearing a headband with Erdogan’s name.

Another Erdogan supporter said the country would get stronger with him in office for five more years.

“There are issues, problems in every country around the world, in European countries as well ... With strong leadership we will overcome Turkey’s problems as well,” said the supporter who gave his name as Mert, 39, as he celebrated with his son.

Bugra Oztug, 24, who voted for Kilicdaroglu, blamed the opposition for failing to change. “I feel sad and disappointed but I am not hopeless. I still think there are people who can see the realities and truth,” Oztug said.

Erdogan’s performance has wrong-footed opponents who thought voters would punish him over the state’s initially slow response to devastating earthquakes in February, in which more than 50,000 people died.

But in the first round of voting on May 14, which included parliamentary elections, his AK Party emerged top in 10 of the 11 provinces hit by the earthquakes, helping it to secure a parliamentary majority along with its allies.

Fears for liberties

French President Emmanuel Macron offered congratulations, saying France and Turkey had “huge challenges to face together”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Erdogan saying he counted on firming “the strategic partnership” between the two countries.

The presidents of Iran, Israel, and the Saudi king were among leaders to congratulate him in the Middle East, where Erdogan has asserted Turkish influence, at times with military power. Erdogan, who was for years at odds with numerous governments in the region, has taken a more conciliatory stance in recent years.

Emre Erdogan, a political science professor at Istanbul’s Bilgi University, attributed Erdogan’s success to his supporters’ belief “in his ability to solve problems, even though he created many of them”.

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Erdogan had also maintained the support of conservative voters who have long felt marginalised. “This era will be characterised by a decline in political and civil liberties, polarisation and cultural fights between two political tribes,” he said.

Erdogan appeared to have prevailed despite years of economic turmoil that critics blame on unorthodox economic policies, which the opposition had pledged to reverse.

The lira slipped towards a fresh record low against the dollar, after the results were announced.

Reuters reported last week that there was disagreement within Erdogan’s government over whether to stick with what some call an unsustainable economic program or abandon it.

Kilicdaroglu had promised to reset governance, restore human rights, and return independence to the courts and central bank after they were sidelined over the last decade.

Erdogan, came just short of victory in the first round of elections on May 14. It was the first time he failed to win an election outright, but he made up for it in the run-off on Sunday.

Reuters, AP

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