U.S. Congratulates Turkish People For 'Peacefully Expressing Their Will At Ballot Box'

Washington D.C./16.05.23/Turan:  The U.S. Monday congratulates the people of Türkiye for "peacefully expressing their will at the ballot box," as the State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel put it, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We also congratulate the newly elected parliament... We’ll continue to work together with whatever government is chosen by the Turkish people to deepen our cooperation and our shared priorities," Patel told a daily press briefing.

He went on to add, "... We are continuing to closely monitor the country’s ongoing electoral process. The supreme electoral council has indicated that the elections are going to go to a run-off."

Washington does not have a favorite candidate. "We look forward to deepening our alliance and cooperation with whatever Turkish Government is chosen by the people of Türkiye."

U.S. observers, through the OSCE, were on the ground observing the election last weekend,  Vedant Patel told TURAN's correspondent.

"The election process is still unfolding, as is the work of the OSCE’s election observation mission, which, as you know, released some preliminary findings," he added.

More broadly, Patel said, "Türkiye has a long, proud democratic tradition, and we trust that Turkish authorities will carry out this next phase of the presidential election in line with the country’s laws and in a manner that is consistent with its commitments to the OSCE as well as a NATO Ally."

It now appears that the election is headed to a two-way runoff on May 28.

Alex Raufoglu