Turkish main opposition party, Republican Peoples Party (CHP) candidate was declared as mayor of Istanbul on Wednesday after recounts of election results were finalized, despite President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party’s pending appeal to re-run the polls in the nation’s largest city.
According to Dawn news reports, the final results of the local elections held on March 31 indicated a narrow victory to CHP in Turkish commercial hub, putting an end to Erdogan’s 25 years of power and control over Istanbul.
This loss to Erdogan is especially hard, as he had launched his political career as a mayor, in Istanbul, in the 1990s. The Ankara’s lira firmed on Wednesday, which has been dipped since the elections.
After he formally took office, CHP chief Ekrem Imamoglu vowed to work for all citizens of the city. At Istanbul’s municipality building, he told reporters, “We never gave up, we never gave up on our battle for democracy and rights.”
He added, “We are aware of our responsibilities and the needs of this city. We will start to serve immediately.”
After 16 days of recounts and appeals, the AKP on Tuesday asked the YSK (High Election Board) to annual and re-run the general election in Istanbul, as what it has said were “irregularities”. A similar request was raised by the nationalist MHP allies on Wednesday.
Imamoglu said, “We are aware there are ongoing processes… We hope the relevant authorities will complete these processes in the most sensitive and just way.”
While presenting AKP’s justification for its request of a new vote session, AKP deputy chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz stated, “There are way too many irregularities,” adding, “We are saying that organised fraud, unlawfulness and crimes were committed.”
CHP deputy chairman Muharrem Erkek replied there were “no concrete documents, information or evidence in the AKP appeal for an annulment.” He said there is no “legitimate reason” at all, adding, “You are using your right (to appeal) to damage the will of Istanbul.”