Erdogan: Nation chose us for 15 consecutive elections

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish nation has made the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party winner of 15 consecutive elections, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said early Monday.

Erdogan said 56 percent of municipalities in Turkey will be run by AK Party, in an address to the nation from the balcony of his party headquarters in capital Ankara after Sunday's local election victory.

"I would like to thank all my citizens, especially our Kurdish brothers, for showing sensitivity toward the issue of survival," he said.

Turkey's ruling party is leading the local elections with 16 metropolitan municipalities and 24 cities claimed by AK Party candidates, according to unofficial results.

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