ADANA, Turkey
Turkey’s political parties have applied for recounts of local election votes in several cities including Ankara, Istanbul, Adana, Yalova and Antalya.
The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party demanded a recount in 10 districts of southern coastal province Adana province.
"In light of the evaluation of our provincial organization and our deputies, the election process in Adana is highly shady and questionable," said AK Party Deputy Chairman Suleyman Soylu.
Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), after requesting a recount, announced that it had won the mayorship of Yalova province and their candidate Vefa Salman is the new mayor.
Mustafa Sarigul, CHP's candidate for mayor of Istanbul, said Tuesday that the counting process had been marred by irregularities and called on the Higher Election Council to hold a total recount of votes. The CHP's Ankara candidate Mansur Yavas also requested a recount after losing to AK Party's Melih Gokcek by only a narrow margin.
CHP's Antalya candidate Mustafa Akaydin had a request for a recount rejected on Wednesady by the provincial election authority, who said deputy police chiefs were present during the counting process.
Turkish voters went to the polls on Sunday, March 30th to cast their votes to elect metropolitan and non-metropolitan mayors across Turkey.
Unofficial results suggest that AK Party received 45 percent of the vote, placing it well ahead of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), which won nearly 28 percent.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
