Erdoğan is in the lead in Turkey’s elections – and democracy is likely to be the loser | Constanze Letsch

The opposition had to face down a hostile media and the president's entrenched power. This disappointment could further skew the second round

It was a tense and confusing night after election polls closed in Turkey yesterday. The official result is still unclear, but a runoff between the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoan, and his main challenger, Kemal Klcdarolu, looks increasingly likely. Neither seem to have reached the necessary 50% threshold to win the election outright, but Erdoan is clearly in the lead. In a press conference in the early morning hours, Klcdarolu said he that he was confident that he would win the runoff. However, enthusiasm, both onstage and among his supporters, was muted. These were not the faces of winners.

While many thought that the opposition's campaign, centred around political reform, unity and an end to the toxic polarisation in the country, was a breath of fresh air; others have criticised Klcdarolu's approach for targeting mostly those who already agreed with his views, for his blue-sky attitude and focus on positive soundbites on social media.

Constanze Letsch is a former Turkey correspondent for the Guardian and has recently finished a PhD on urban renewal in Istanbul

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