Run-off likely with Erdogan leading

Third candidate Sinan Ogan emerges as kingmaker
The ultra-nationalist third candidate, Sinan Ogan, has emerged as the kingmaker after picking up five percent of the votes. He has yet to come out for either frontrunner.

Ogan, leader of the ATA Alliance party, has been accused of xenophobic and far-right policies.

With almost all ballots counted, Erdogan is leading with 49.42 percent of the vote to Kilicdaroglu’s 44.95 percent, according to official figures provided by state news agency Anadolu.
Turkish stocks fall with banks leading losses
Turkish stocks have fallen as the presidential election appeared headed for a runoff with incumbent president Tayyip Erdogan in the lead.

Turkey’s benchmark BIST-100 index fell more than six percent at the open, prompting a market-wide circuit breaker, before recouping some losses to trade 2.9 percent lower by 0857 GMT.

The banking sub-index led losses on the index with a 9.10 percent fall.

Shares of Garanti Bank fall as much as 10 percent in morning trade, while Yapı Kredi Bank was down 9.97 percent.

Votes for Erdogan at more than 49 percent as ballot count continues
With about 99 percent of ballot boxes opened, Erdogan has received 49.4 percent of votes in the country’s presidential election, the head of the country’s election council has said.

Ahmet Yener, the head of the Supreme Election Council (YSK) said Erdogan’s rival, Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, had scored 44.96 percent and the third-placed candidate, ultranationalist and potential kingmaker Sinan Ogan 5.2 percent of the vote.Turkish social media fires up with anger against Erdogan voters in quake-stricken regions
Some Turkish citizens have taken to social media to express their anger and disappointment with people who voted for Erdogan in quake-stricken southern provinces.

Erdogan’s government has been condemned for what its critics see as a slow response to the February 6 earthquakes, and many supporters of the opposition had expected voters in the region to support Kilicdaroglu.

In Kahramanmaras, the epicentre of the earthquake, preliminary results published by the Anadolu Agency showed more than 71 percent of the votes had gone to Erdogan.

“This means that from now on, we do not need to feel bad for anyone. People determine their fates for themselves,” said one social media user, referring to victims of the earthquakes.“I really cannot believe this. I will not be sad for most of them [quake victims] anymore,” another social media user said.

“I overexerted myself after the earthquake to try to do something. I became sick with sadness. They [quake victims] can go ask the AK Party for help. There is nothing to say,” the post said.One person said they only felt sorry for children who had been affected by the earthquake, but they had otherwise lost all sympathy for people affected by the quake.

“Other than the kids, I will no longer be sad for anyone else,” the social media user wrote on Twitter.