WASHINGTON, D.C.
The AK Party got a "convincing" victory in Turkey’s local elections, said former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, James Jeffrey, on Monday in Washington D.C.
Jeffrey speaking at the Washington Institute said "This was not a victory for Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan; this was a victory for the AK Party."
"It is a convincing victory nonetheless, as some have said, because the opposition parties together, CHP and MHP, got votes, not a lot more votes," Jeffrey added as Erdogan and the AK Party took around 40 percent of the votes compared to CHP who were in the high twenties and MHP whose share of the vote was below 20 percent.
Jeffrey also mentioned Turkey’s upcoming presidential elections this summer saying that "in terms of the next step here, I agree that the obvious course of action is for Erdogan to take up the presidency as he will get 50 percent of the vote on his own behalf and he will also get the votes of the Kurdish party".
He also emphasized the importance of the relationship between the U.S. and Turkey saying "This country is a very important player in the months and years ahead considering what’s going on in the Black Sea, Syria, Iraq and Iran. We (U.S.) are going to need our relationship with Turkey."
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