Erdogan spokesman calls on US congressman to 'shut up' over election criticism

The official representative of the Turkish President, Ibrahim Kalin, advised the American Congressman, the senior Democrat of the Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, Adam Schiff, to “shut up” after his statements regarding the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey. Kalyn wrote about this on Tuesday on his Twitter page .

"President Erdogan definitely doesn't need your congratulations, Adam Schiff. The Turkish people have spoken . You need to shut up," Erdogan's spokesman said.

Thus, Kalin responded to Schiff’s post on Twitter, in which he noted that “Erdogan “won” the election only by destroying the opposition through arrests, violence and suppression of freedom of speech.” The congressman also wrote that "Turkey's slide into autocracy is a reminder of the threat to democracy around the world."

Early presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey were held on June 24. The presidential race, according to preliminary data, was won by Erdogan with 52.5%, while his main competitor, Republican People's Party candidate Muharrem İnce, received 30.7% of the vote. Erdoğan's other opponents were Selahattin Demirtaş (30.6% of the vote) from the pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party, Meral Akşener (7.3%) from the Good Party, Temel Karamollaoğlu (0.9%) from the Happy Party and Doğu Perinçek (0.2%). ) from the Rodina party, RIA Novosti reports.

Five parties entered parliament. The ruling Justice and Development Party received 295 seats in the Majlis out of 600. Together with the Nationalist Movement Party, it makes up the People's Alliance, which received 53.6% of the vote (344 seats in parliament). The opposition Republican People's Party received the support of 22.7% of voters, the People's Democracy Party - 11.6%, and the Good Party - 10%. The remaining political associations did not cross the 10 percent threshold.

In accordance with previously adopted amendments to the constitution, after the official publication of the voting results, the country will move from a parliamentary to a presidential form of government, TASS reports.

Erdogan has ruled Turkey for 16 years and will remain in power for at least another five years. He became the most powerful ruler of the country since the founder of the state, Ataturk, writes Handelsblatt .

In terms of political power and centralization of power, Erdogan can be compared with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as with the forms of government in Iran and Saudi Arabia, InoPressa reports.