live from london. this is bbc news recep erdogan to address a crowd in istanbul as counting continues in the turkish presidential run off. the white house and us republicans have reached an agreement �*in principle�*, to raise the government debt ceiling and avoid a default britain's government is discussing plans for supermarkets to cap the price of basic food items to help tackle the rising cost of living.

hello i'm anna foster. turkey's long—time president, recep tayyip erdogan, has declared victory in sunday's presidential election run—off, he can see here in december that president erdogan supporters are convinced that he has one a third term as president in power here in turkey. he has been in power as prime minister or president for more than 20 years now, people have been voting here all day and just in the last hour as president erdogan made his speech at his home in insertable, it was relayed at the screen here outside the party headquarters. it is where people have been coming for the last few

hours. they have been arriving on every mode of transport possible. there been on motorbikes and lorries and sound in their horns. you can see thejubilation here, you can see the flags. you can hear the chance and cheers. because when president erdogan divert declared victory, they had it close at the start but thenit they had it close at the start but then it appeared that president erdogan had edged ahead. the last official result was 75% of the votes counted but it had president erdogan had. he needs half of the available votes to become president and the scenes are being repeated right across the country here in turkey. live now to our reporter victoria craig. i know you are at the chp party headquarters the, the opposition party headquarters where i know it's

something it's garrett here in london, the lines of victoria has not been fun. we london, the lines of victoria has not been fun.— london, the lines of victoria has not been fun. we see the disparity between what _ not been fun. we see the disparity between what president _ not been fun. we see the disparity between what president erdogan l not been fun. we see the disparity| between what president erdogan is saying and what the official election authorities are saying. when do we think we might get the official announcement? will come later this evening or tomorrow? that is a key question. _ later this evening or tomorrow? that is a key question. there is every chance that for the official numbers we will have to wait until tomorrow morning but interestingly here in turkey, they don't have exit polls like other countries. you have them state news agency which is favourable to president erdogan and the opposition news agency, and what they try and do is collate their own results, essentially. there talk to their own supporters in different places because everett ballot box where people have voted, every ballot box has observers on both

sides. the incumbent party have their own observers and the opposition have their own observers and a look at the numbers and try to take down the official numbers been sent to the fortress. the parties have their own system where they have their own system where they have their own system where they have their voters to show the information and bring their own conference of i to say, it won't be official until the election authorities make that announcement but people don't wait for that. president erdogan has not waited for that and has made his speech to his jubilant report is here and you can hear how noisy it is already. the sound was deafening as he was talking to supporters of about five more years as president. he was talking to them about what he was promising for the future of this country and he was also saying that he had one victory. he said he had

been receiving calls from other leaders around the world. we cannot talk to victoria craig who was in ankara. victoria, are you select a chp headquarters and i imagine the scene is somewhat different to what we're seeing here? it scene is somewhat different to what we're seeing here?— we're seeing here? it sounds very different to _ we're seeing here? it sounds very different to the _ we're seeing here? it sounds very different to the one _ we're seeing here? it sounds very different to the one you _ we're seeing here? it sounds very different to the one you are - different to the one you are experiencing their in insertable. i am outside the opposition and quarters in the capital ankara, and i'm not sure my microphone is picking it up but outside here is a big roadway, a highway, there's lots of honking going on and people plunking at the billing support in president erdogan. it is something we heard after the first round here at 3:30am in the morning people were honking. there is a big banner, i don't if you can seat. a big banner with kemal kilicdarouglu with his face on it and people kind of honking and responded to it. the energy here at least in chp

headquarters is not the same as you are seen there this evening. figs headquarters is not the same as you are seen there this evening.- are seen there this evening. as we were 'ust are seen there this evening. as we were just discussing, _ are seen there this evening. as we were just discussing, obviously, i are seen there this evening. as we | werejust discussing, obviously, you can see what is happening in ankara, when president erdogan will make another seizure accepted the presidential palace, people don't wait for those official results and you can see the reactions, the honking horns in the flags, people make up their mind based on what the politicians are telling. they don't wait for that official confirmation, for the official figures. definitely, and i for the officialfigures. definitely, and i think it is only have the atmosphere, you only helps when the president himself is up and declares victory. so, i think everyone is getting behind them and it seems they are thinking this is the end of it. this is the end of the end of it. this is the end of the road. we should say that kemal kilicdarouglu and the opposition coalition has not conceded defeat yet and i think we are expecting to hearfrom him shortly yet and i think we are expecting to hear from him shortly this evening. i'm not sure if you will concede then or if ye will say, he has been

steadfast, both in this round and the previous round number saying that everyone of their voters should stay at the ballot box until every vote has been counted. that is something the spokesperson who has come up tonight in the building behind me has been repeated. do not leave your stations until every ballot box has been counted, even though the numbers the last i checked was 52% to 42%. they are not saying it's a foregone conclusion until every vote is counted. as you say, people making up their own mind about who was won the election. victoria, you specialise in business and finance so let's talk about that. the problem is with the turkish economy have been going on for a long time now. some people seem president erdogan for making the things worse for this event is made on things like interest rates. if he has clinched the presidency again what does that mean for the turkish economy? when people have

been suffering for a long time. the auestion been suffering for a long time. tue: question everyone been suffering for a long time. he question everyone has been suffering for a long time. tt2 question everyone has been asking throughout this campaign is what another five years after two decades of leadership will mean the sum as you say, the president has been very opposed to higher interest rates to combat rising prices. because of the mother and father of all evening and told cnn earlier this week he will continuing the policy of preventing the central bank from raising interest rates which is a tool most central banks in other parts of the world like the us and uk have used the trained team of rising prices. inflation rate is at 8.5% back in october and as one back to 44% inflation. i've been talking to people throughout this country about in the and what it means and the economic impact on their pocketbooks. people say it is difficult to make ends meet and buying things as the grocery has

become more expensive. as you put the same groceries or is that everyone in the capital subset, and ac food rights and under stress because people can't bite. it's a real problem the country is facing an the president says he want to higher interest rates to combat the inflation so we will see what policies he and puts in place. it is get in a bit love to hear, i don't know if you hear it with the president supporters out on the road beside me here. back to the economy deliver did not do well on friday so the thought is we will have to wait and see what happens and we have a clear and official winner. investors have been cautious about putting money into turkey because of what is going on. money into turkey because of what is auoin on. . ~' ,,

money into turkey because of what is auoin on. . ~ . ., ., money into turkey because of what is uuoinon. . . ., ., ., , going on. thank you victoria who is a journalist in _ going on. thank you victoria who is a journalist in ankara. _ going on. thank you victoria who is a journalist in ankara. at _ going on. thank you victoria who is a journalist in ankara. at the - a journalist in ankara. at the moment. you can hear the party atmosphere here, the president heard one voters are celebrating the victory. the man himself has claimed in his speech in istanbul. he will be on his way to ankara soon to make another speech. as we await those final results. you can sell the party here will continue long into the night. anna foster in istanbul for the moment, thank you so much. you can follow developments on our website. turkey a neato member with 85 million people and a important role in the wider world. our senior international correspondent has spent the day in turkey and has looked at the challenges that face the country.

that's one way of getting votes. president recep tayyip erdogan, handing out cash outside a polling station in istanbul, like a modern—day sultan. turkey's authoritarian leader wants a third term and plenty of people are willing to give it to him. like aisha gul, who told us the erdogan era has brought development. translation: i've been a teacher | for 25 years and when i look back| i see how far turkey has come. there have been many changes. many improvements. i hope the future will be even better. but better for who, in this deeply polarised society? despite a deluge, supporters waited patiently for the opposition leader, kemal kilicdaroglu, then charting his slogan. "everything will be beautiful."

he has run as mr nice guy but he's now vowing to send all refugees home if he wins. including three million syrians. it's a bid to woo nationalists. he needs every vote. the choice here is stark. two very different options. a seasoned autocrat or an untested democrat. turnout looked lower than last time around, but it reached 87%. the process is carried out very carefully, here. you have to arrive with a voting slip and with your id. your name is checked on the list and after you vote, you sign that you have done so. there are observers here too from all the political parties. but president erdogan has gone into this contest with key advantages, not least almost total control of the media.

this man, a retired lawyer of 90, came out to vote for change. translation: in turkey currently there's a dictatorial regime. - i'm voting to return to democracy. first of all, there is nojustice. the president holds executive and legislative powers. this is the biggest mistake. whoever wins will take on a divided country and a broken economy. the outlook here is for hard times ahead. we have pictures in from turkey. these are jubilant supporters of president erdogan who says he has won the presidential election runoff race which is the second round. we

have not heard the official results as yet but despite that the address that president erdogan gave to supporters on top of a bus, singing to them at one point, has galvanised them and they are in for the voice for what they claim is a wind for the current president. 0ne for what they claim is a wind for the current president. one thing i want to pick up on is the fact that president ardoin president erdogan allies control the vast majority of media. during the campaign in april, state tv gave the president 32 hours and more of your time but the challenger got there minutes of your time. what impact does it have having such a large and expensive voice in shaping the narrative around the election if you are to win over voters? tt around the election if you are to win over voters?—

win over voters? it is a huge im act. win over voters? it is a huge impact. there _ win over voters? it is a huge impact. there is _ win over voters? it is a huge impact. there is no - win over voters? it is a huge impact. there is no question win over voters? it is a huge - impact. there is no question about it. obviously the way that president erdogan operates which shows he's a strong man. his critics say it shows he's an authoritarian leader who tries to crush his opposition and is not value democracy. it means that mainstream media in turkey, by and large, are more or less supportive of president erdogan and his party. and the opposition challenger or any other challenger has a mountain to climb because it's notjust the powerful president and the party, the ruling party in turkey, that they are fighting against the are also fighting against basically an entire establishment machine. so it's really difficult for them to get their voice out. that's why most of the time, in the sense of

elections in countries where you have one powerful and authoritative leader, social media is basically an online platform where opposition forces, where opposition and it is, try to gather momentum and try to rally their supporters. that is what has happened here. we rally their supporters. that is what has happened here.— rally their supporters. that is what has happened here. we see, during elections, international— has happened here. we see, during elections, international monitors i elections, international monitors and independent monitors going to election so what's the count and we have seen both sides with their observers. we see on social media that the social media try to buy these things as best as a can although some say they don't do enoughin although some say they don't do enough in that regard. what actions have we seen from social media companies in terms of trying to keep some grip on what is being said online in regards to the election? that's a excellent question because it's tricking turkey. the turkish government is quite aggressive in

requests that it tries to censor online platforms that will take down any platform that he doesn't like. the content it does not like is content from activists or opposition supporters or people were critical of president erdogan. if you look at some online platforms, who publish in a quarterly basis or an annual basis, figures for governments around the world to basically make a request to the online platform or content to be taken down and exactly what was taken down, what percentage and how many times, turkey comes near the top of governments around the world who meet those requests from online platforms. in the first run of this election, not today but two weeks ago, twitter actually revealed that it had received a threat from the turkish government that had it not blocked for

particular opposition accounts and about 400 tweets on the eve of the first round of elections, the turkish government would have blocked access to twitter for turkish citizens on election day. 0bviously, elon musk is a new owner of twitter, set it on the platform and said they had to comply with it because they were left with no other option between blocking foraging suites and four accounts to people and users in turkey. and not having turkish people with access to twitter on election day so they had to make a decision on that. we are hearing from opposition sources that similar requests have been made for the second round. 0bviously for twitter or any other platform like instagram or facebook or youtube have not made any other announcement that it made such a request from the

runoff election city but if they had we will definitely hear about it and we will definitely hear about it and we will definitely find out more was to give us some details. you we will definitely find out more was to give us some details.— to give us some details. you have been following _ to give us some details. you have been following this _ to give us some details. you have been following this election - to give us some details. you have l been following this election closely and other elections for us as well idc verified, what is your gut sense of how this news is going to reverberate going forward was to mark you get the impression that people will settle and absorb the result when the effort officially announced or do you think there'll be huge narrative of people to contest this or challenge this on social media?— contest this or challenge this on social media? people are already conscious and _ social media? people are already conscious and then _ social media? people are already conscious and then challenged i social media? people are already conscious and then challenged it| social media? people are already i conscious and then challenged it on social media but exactly how contentious it would be really depends on how wide a margin of victory as it appears that president erdogan seems like he's on course for. no official in my sum yet but it depends on that. depending on the

margin of victory and how big it is and basically what the type of claims that are being made both my opposition forces and online, how reliable they are and how they are illegal and whether large numbers of people actually do see them and do believe them. those are the things that will decide whether in a very tightly contested election ideas, if people will move on and exit the result or something us. at the moment, there's quite a lot of tension attention to a viral video from president erdogan earlier today where he is at the ballot box at it with a whatever cash and had out money to supporters. this is something he has been doing on the last few months on the campaign trail but one thing to do it on the campaign trail but not doing it on camping election day civil service.

that video is causing quite a lot of anger amongst opposition voters online but if that in itself is enough to start an opposition movement against the results, i doubt it. we will see. [30 movement against the results, i doubt it. we will see.— doubt it. we will see. do say with us but thank _ doubt it. we will see. do say with us but thank you _ doubt it. we will see. do say with us but thank you for _ doubt it. we will see. do say with us but thank you for the - doubt it. we will see. do say with| us but thank you for the moment. 7:20pm in the uk and 9:20pm in turkey where all are given is giving him or her take on the situation in ankara. the counting is continuing and is clear that president erdogan has a comfortable lead and based on what they have heard supporters of president erdogan are converging on the cup though where they expect to

see him give a speech. as far as a concerned he would be leaving the country and you sang and said hopefully to be worthy of your trust. we have not heard from the opposition. they have streamed every sin you to try to catch up with the lead the president had in the first round. they gained a few percentage points in support. it did not turn out to be enough but officially they have not yet conceded defeat but it seems pretty clear now, based on the information that we have that turkeys longest—serving leader would not be heading into a third term in office for his supporters, of course, that is a cause for celebration. for he screeches here, and there are many, is a cause for fear and concerned about the state of the economy which he is blamed for causing rampant inflation and derek are concerns on the part of many here that a further erosion of freedoms, free and civil liberties. tonight it looks like the night

belongs to the ruling party and their sub parts and president erdogan. their sub parts and president erdouan. �* , their sub parts and president erdouan. fl ., their sub parts and president erdouan. h ., ., ., erdogan. it's worth noting that kemal kilicdarouglu _ erdogan. it's worth noting that kemal kilicdarouglu managed | erdogan. it's worth noting that i kemal kilicdarouglu managed to do something fairly impressive himself. he managed to bring together six opposition parties who didn't have major connections with each other but managed to get them to coalesce around him as a candidate and managed to get this election to go to a second round. that is never happened before. he has had much despite potentially not managing to win the election, significant sickness nonetheless. == win the election, significant sickness nonetheless. -- success. it is clear that — sickness nonetheless. -- success. it is clear that at _ sickness nonetheless. -- success. it is clear that at the _ sickness nonetheless. -- success. it is clear that at the station _ sickness nonetheless. -- success. it is clear that at the station is - sickness nonetheless. -- success. it is clear that at the station is not i is clear that at the station is not one but he did push it to a second round and you have to look at the playing field here which is far from the blood. we have had an opposition candidate who has been denied their time on state tv and has been invisible on state tv which is the means by which most people here get their news and information. president erdogan on the other hand

has had was a wall favourable coverage on most of the tv challenge. he and his allies control about 90% of the turkish media so consider how difficult it is been for the opposition to get their message out there. they had to do it by guerrilla tactics and rely on social media. they were effective in doing that. president erdogan and a share of the vote and his party share of the vote and his party share of the vote and his party share of the vote has come down. this is not a ringing endorsement for a leader who has had control over all of the levers of power for more than 20 years. he controls the institutions and the police and who critics. i spoke to the judiciary and one of the opposition with a gentleman of 19 and a retired lawyer who said i have come back to vote because there is a dictatorial regime here and no freedom and no justice. and what people go to court, the result is decided on the

basis of instruction from on high. although there celebration for the president and his supporters to nine, is a deeply polarised and divided country and there would be many tonight who are bitterly disappointed because this was seen very much as the best chance for the opposition. as you say, kemal kilicdarouglu had rallied this difficult correlation and bringing together nationalists and islamists and hold the six parties together and hold the six parties together and even without the fear access to national media, he managed to get as far as he did. we understand, based on current figures, he is on about 47% of the vote and the president of 53% was up that number might come up or down slightly as the night goes on but he gave president erdogan a run for his money but think the president and his supporters will take a message away from this. i think they were damaged by the criticism of the handling of their economy but it is a strong one here

at the end between the president and his supporters. it's almost a family type relationship with many people seen him as a father figure, as a grandfather figure seen him as a father figure, as a grandfatherfigure and seen him as a father figure, as a grandfather figure and they are blinded to him and they have intense loyalty to them come what may. even with rampant inflation of over 40% here. with rampant inflation of over 4096 here. . . , with rampant inflation of over 4096 here. ., ., ., , here. that was ordinary garin in ankara. here. that was ordinary garin in ankara- i _ here. that was ordinary garin in ankara. i want— here. that was ordinary garin in ankara. i want to _ here. that was ordinary garin in ankara. i want to bring - here. that was ordinary garin in ankara. i want to bring you i here. that was ordinary garin in i ankara. i want to bring you comments from our life page. this is from her european editor, following up on president erdogan's victory speech which he claims on top of a bus which he claims on top of a bus which is not been confirmed by the state election authorities. we are still waiting for kemal kilicdarouglu to respond to these results and these claims that president erdogan has one victory. and president erdogan saying that the only winner is turkey with address any supporters on the top of address any supporters on the top of a bus in istanbul and that he said that bye—bye kemal kilicdarouglu in reference to his opposition

candidate, taunted him as he was doing so. president erdogan returned to the theme of his campaign which is cropped up, accusing the opposition parties which nominated kemal kilicdarouglu as a candidate, he represented six opposition parties, president erdogan saying that the opposition parties had embraced pro—lgbt policies and thus a nod to his conservative base who have come out and voted for him. we arejoined throughout have come out and voted for him. we are joined throughout this programme here by our bbc verified team. thank you for doing to. i want to pick up on what we have been referencing there. the themes of this campaign. what's up in the top themes? what's up what's up in the top themes? what's up in the hot button issues for people? fin up in the hot button issues for neale? ., up in the hot button issues for --eole? ., ., ., up in the hot button issues for n-eole? ., ., ., ., people? on social media and online latforms people? on social media and online platforms which _ people? on social media and online platforms which are _ people? on social media and online platforms which are the _ people? on social media and online platforms which are the places i i platforms which are the places i have been following the campaign, it lots of attention has been paid to the economy. that has been pretty much the main issue. 0bviously the economy. that has been pretty much the main issue. obviously the turkish economy has gone through a

difficult period and is still going through a difficult period and that has been from the online full service, mentioned by everybody. the other thing on online platforms has been opposition activists who are most active against president erdogan, it's about civil liberties and the idea that president erdogan has basically, that's what they claim, that president erdogan has changed turkish democracy into something on authoritarian system where he holds all the power and his appointees in different positions have lost independence and are basically are a series of yes men in power who do what president erdogan and his ruling party wants to do rather than decide independently or

have different levers of power challenges you draw there with checks and balances. they claim all of that has been gotten rid of and they claim that activists who speak against the ruling party or president erdogan are often arrested and put in prison. and thejudicial system basically does what the ruling party and president erdogan tell them to do rather than independently and fairly look at these cases. so those have been for me, personally, the economy and civil liberties have been the main things that i have seen monitoring the composition throughout this campaign online. haifa the composition throughout this campaign online.— the composition throughout this campaign online. how do you think this conversation _ campaign online. how do you think this conversation are _ campaign online. how do you think this conversation are in _ campaign online. how do you think this conversation are in these i campaign online. how do you think this conversation are in these key i this conversation are in these key themes will develop going forward? just briefly, what you think the impact of these elections will be? the economic issues will not go

away. colleagues who are facing there, it's a serious issue that will have to be dealt with whether president erdogan really does get a victory or kemal kilicdarouglu. 0n theissue victory or kemal kilicdarouglu. 0n the issue of civil liberties it would be interested to see how president erdogan handles in other five years and whether he will carry on precisely as he has over the last 20 years. particularly, i would say, since the coup in 2010 mikey really tightened his grip on power and whether that would carry on or whether that would carry on or whether there would be a change in attitude or change in behaviour and the way president erdogan handles his next five years. you're watching bbc news. and

enjoyed by my colleague