Erdogan Seeks to Seal Victory in Run-Off for Turkish Presidency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is aiming to drive home an election victory to extend his rule well into a third decade and maintain the mix of foreign and economic policies that have set the country apart on the world stage.  

Erdogan, 69, defied opinion polls that had projected a slim win for opponent Kemal Kilicdaroglu, 74, in the first-round vote for the presidency two weeks ago, sending the currency to new depths and corporate bonds and stocks tumbling. The pair now face each other in Sunday’s run-off, with the momentum behind the incumbent after the governing alliance led by his AK Party retained its majority in parliament.