Turkey elections: Early result puts AK party ahead

Istanbul (QNN)- With over 90 percent of the ballots counted in Turkey’s local elections, the governing Justice and Development (AK) Party-led People’s Alliance maintains the lead, holding 45 percent of the vote. The Nation Alliance, led by Republican People’s Party (CHP), has raked in 31.3 percent nationwide in Turkey Elections.

The AK party has declared victory in the race for mayor of Istanbul. State broadcaster TRT says former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim received 48.71 percent of the votes in Sunday’s municipal elections while the opposition’s candidate, Ekrem Imamoglu, got 48.65 percent.

Binali Yildirim said: “We have won the election in Istanbul. May the results be beneficial for Istanbul and our country.”

More than 57 million were registered to vote for mayors and councillors. More than 44 million Turkish citizens were expected to vote in 30 of the largest cities, the metropolitan municipalities. Another 12.8 million voters were estimated to cast their ballots in another 51 provinces.

Erdogan attaches great importance to Istanbul. The Turkish leader began his rise to power as its mayor in 1994 and said at campaign rallies that “whoever wins Istanbul, wins Turkey.”