UN chief congratulates Turkey on elections

NEW YORK

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday congratulated Turkey and its government on the Nov. 1 parliamentary elections, which saw the Justice and Development (AK) Party secure an outright majority.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban encouraged the AK Party and all political parties "to work closely together to strengthen the peace, stability and democracy in the country".

According to preliminary results, the AK Party won over 49 percent of the votes, a higher proportion than predictions by opinion polls. The party won 317 seats in the 550-member Turkish parliament.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) came second with 25.3 percent, followed by the Nationalist Movement Party at 11.9 percent and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) at 10.7 percent.

Sunday’s snap vote was called following an inconclusive general election in June, which saw no party win an outright majority. Months of subsequent talks between parties failed to produce a coalition.

NEW YORK

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban encouraged the AK Party and all political parties "to work closely together to strengthen the peace, stability and democracy in the country".

According to preliminary results, the AK Party won over 49 percent of the votes, a higher proportion than predictions by opinion polls. The party won 317 seats in the 550-member Turkish parliament.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) came second with 25.3 percent, followed by the Nationalist Movement Party at 11.9 percent and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) at 10.7 percent.