IMAMOGLU, mayoral candidate for CHP expects to receive his mandate, soon

Local elections were held in Turkey on 31 March 2019 and the ruling Ak Party faced big unfavorable surprises by losing elections is some major towns such as Ankara, Antalya, Adana and goes without saying Istanbul to be the most important of all.

However, Ak Party objected the results in Istanbul claiming there were irregularities regarding the results of Istanbul elections. In fact Omer CELIK, the spokesman for the ruling party stated that the result was not crystal clear and they would use all their rights to object results by submitting necessary files to the Supreme Election Board.

Ekrem IMAMOGLU, mayoral candidate for main opposition CHP on the other hand who seems to have won the election based on votes counted so far (almost 100 percent) has said his party has confidence in the Supreme Election Board (YSK) and that it would make the right ruling amid claims of vote irregularities in the elections by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

 “We believe the YSK will make the correct ruling concerning the process. Sound steps should be taken in order to finalize and clarify this process” IMAMOGLU said at a press conference, elaborating on the ongoing YSK assessment on the AKP’s objections to the outcome of the Istanbul vote.

 He went on to say, “Thee ruling party (AK Party) should accept that it has failed and step down as part of the nature of democracy. Istanbul is tired of this process”. He also added that the opposition (CHP) was optimistic that the YSK would give him the mandate to run Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

IMAMOGLU also said, “We want Istanbul to be handed over to us along with the problems [of the city] as soon as possible”.

Speaking about the possibility of a new election in Istanbul, he said it would only be a waste of time. “Then one can hold an election every two months when they don’t like the results?” he said.

“Democracy requires that the one who fails should congratulate the winner” he said, urging a normalization process in Turkey soon. He went on to say, “They have damaged our country and city. This city is being watched by the entire world at the moment. The price will be heavy”.