ANKARA
Senior officials from Turkey's main political parties have been casting their votes in the local elections.
Turkey's Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek and his family cast their votes in the Golbasi district of Ankara on Sunday, an Anadolu Agency correspondent reported.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency about the local elections, Cicek said, "Of course, there will be a winner and a loser in this election, but the real winner is democracy and our nation."
Cicek added that the recent political tensions, which have engulfed country, will dissipate following confirmation of the election results on March 31,"Turkey needs peace and fraternity," he continued.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc cast his vote in the Bestepe district of Ankara.
He said there was a big interest in the elections, and added: “I suppose that if it is like this until the vote closing, then there should be over 80 percent participation.
“Everyone should use their right to vote in a democratic country.”
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz voted in the Yenimahalle district of Ankara. Speaking to press members, he said "I hope the March 30 polls will contribute to Turkey's political stability, development and growth."
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay cast his vote in the Emek district of Ankara and told an Anadolu Agency correspondent that the election is important for Turkey and the voter turnout seems high.
Elsewhere Deputy Prime Minister Emrullah Isler voted in Ankara’s Etlik district. After casting his vote Isler speaking to the press said “The politicians are quiet, now it is time for the nation to speak in the name of democracy.”
Interior Minister Efkan Ala cast his vote in the Cankaya district of Ankara and told the press that the Turkish citizens have long-time experience in voting as “elections are the principles of democracy”.
Meanwhile, casting his vote in Istanbul`s neighbor Kocaeli province, Fikri Isik, the minister of transportation stressed the importance of ballot boxes and the role of the people in determining the results.
"That everyone accepts the results of these elections is an issue of the belief in democracy," said Isik, adding he believed people would go to polls in freedom, privacy and peace and that there would be a big turnout.
Another official, Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, voted in Turkey’s central Anatolian province of Sivas wishing that the elections bring comfort to a troublesome period in the country.
Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel voted in Ankara’s Cankaya district, while Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Mehmet Mehdi Eker, cast his vote in Yenisehir district of Diyarbakir.
“Today is the day to celebrate democracy and everyone should use their right to vote,” said Eker.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Omer Celik voted in Adana’s district of Seyhan, saying: “It is not easy to use the right to vote – as we can see in Syria, Egypt, Ukraine, Iraq. We should be thankful we have the rights we do.”
Turkey’s Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz voted in Bingol province and told the press that the voters’ will would be respected and all would see the future of Turkey’s democracy.
- 'I trust my nation'
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the main opposition leader, voted in Ankara’s Cukurambar district.
“We need to strengthen our democracy, we need to refresh it and I trust my nation,” he said.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli cast his vote in the Cankaya district of Ankara, saying participation seemed to be high.
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) leader Selahattin Demirtas voted in Diyarbakir’s district of Kayapinar. He said the elections were calm and he hoped that it would stay this way until the polls close.
“I wish and hope all my compatriots go to the polls and vote,” he added.
Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi) leader Mustafa Kamalak cast his vote in Cankaya district of Ankara, and said the election was important for Turkey’s future.
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