Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Massoud Barzani, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Bosniak member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, Bakir Izetbegovic, Palestinian Fatah movement spokesperson Osama Qawasmi and Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu all conveyed their congratulations for the AK Party's triumph on Sunday.
Putin called Erdoğan on Monday and congratulated him on the “convincing victory” of his AK Party in the municipal elections. The two leaders reiterated their desire to strengthen mutually advantageous bilateral cooperation and agreed to maintain contact, Putin's office said in a written statement released on its website on Monday.
Azerbaijan's Aliyev also called the prime minister on Monday to commend him on the AK Party's “decisive victory” and sent good wishes for the welfare and progress of the Turkish nation, according to a statement released on the website of Aliyev's office. The two also reportedly discussed bilateral issues during their phone conversation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Izetbegovic issued a statement saying that Erdoğan's AK Party came out of the elections with a “great victory.” It said that he and his party follow every one of the AK Party's elections “with excitement as if it were our own Party of Democratic Action's [SDA] contest,” and adding that they celebrate every success in Turkey as if it were their own.
Barzani also congratulated Erdoğan on Sunday's elections and called him “my brother,” according to a statement, saying the results of the March 30 elections will assist the peace process between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). He said the election was important for “democracy to become established and the public will being reflected” in Turkey. “I am sure that the results of the election will have a positive effect on the peace process in Turkey. I hope the peace, brotherhood and development in your country will continue to gain in strength.”
Turkey's relations with the KRG have been developing as a result of recent energy deals and high-level visits. In a show of support for Erdoğan, KRG leader Barzani paid a visit to Diyarbakır, a predominantly Kurdish city, during the settlement process. During his meeting with Erdoğan, Barzani renewed his support for the process that was initiated by the AK Party in late 2012 to resolve the country's decades-old terrorism problem. Ankara and Arbil have also strengthened ties with the recent momentum in energy relations as well as other mutual regional interests.
Another acknowledgment came from Palestine's Fatah party. Movement spokesperson Qawasmi celebrated the “big success” of the AK Party, saying that the results of the elections raise hopes for the “development and welfare of Turkey.”
The AK Party is one of the strongest supporters of Palestinian efforts for statehood and has pressed for reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah -- rival groups that run separate administrations in the Palestinian Territories -- calling their division an obstacle to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to unofficial results, Erdoğan's ruling party won around 45 percent of the total vote across Turkey, a result surprising most observers, given that Erdoğan has been faced with a graft investigation that implicated him and his close associates.
More than 45 million people went to the polls, a record-high level of voter turnout in municipal elections that were seen as a referendum on Erdoğan's 11-year rule. Despite his struggle with the corruption scandal, the electoral victory gave Erdoğan a fresh boost and reinforced his confidence ahead of presidential elections scheduled for this summer.
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