Ankara: Recount increases votes of AK Party candidate

By Muhammed Ali Toruntay

ANKARA (AA) - The number of votes cast in favor of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's mayoral candidate in the capital Ankara have increased over 1,800 following the party’s legal contest, according to AK Party’s secretary general on Thursday.

“In 25 of the 25 districts of Ankara, we applied to the district election boards for the recount votes in the metropolitan municipality elections,” Fatih Sahin told reporters at AK Party headquarters in Ankara.

The recount process has been completed in 12 of 25 so far, Sahin said.

“Votes of Mehmet Ozhaseki, who joined the election as AK Party’s candidate for People’s Alliance, have increased 1,805,” Sahin said, adding the number was much lower than expectations.

The party, Sahin said, would again contest the results as their objections were denied in 13 districts, while their demand was not met in 12 districts.

He also added that there was also a 666-vote increase for Mansur Yavas, mayoral candidate of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Ankara after recount.

Yavas is leading with 50.91 percent of votes, according to unofficial results, with the AK Party’s Ozhaseki at 47.1 percent.

Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes nationwide Sunday in elections to choose Turkey’s mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials), and members of elder councils for the next five years.

According to unofficial results, the AK Party is leading in 15 metropolitan municipalities (larger cities), with 24 smaller cities also claimed by AK Party candidates.

*Writing by Sena Guler