AKP spokesperson defends state news agency and election watchdog

ANKARA

Mahir Ünal, the spokesman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has denied accusations directed by opposition parties against the Anadolu Agency and the Supreme Board of Election (YSK), saying there is “no suspicion” in the initial election results.

“There is no suspicion over the results,” Ünal told reporters late on June 24 in reaction to claims from main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and İYİ (Good) Party officials about “manipulations” carried out by the state-run Agency Agency and the Supreme Election Board (YSK).

“Anadolu Agency officials are posting officially registered votes by the representatives of all political parties in the ballot box committees. It happens in front of everybody. While any irregularities are impossible, it is unacceptable to make heavy provocations against state institutions like Anadolu Agency and the YSK,” Ünal said.

His statement came as opposition officials said the agency’s preliminary results “do not reflect the facts,” as reports from ballot box observers that the opposition has received have shown different results.

“None of the parties receive different information. The entrance of the data may differ from region to region. Because of that, we are saying that we are waiting all the boxes to be opened. It is not meaningful that some say 25 percent and others say 65 percent,” Ünal said.

He described the twin elections as “democracy feast” with more than 87 percent turnout and he also hailed the start of the implementation of the new presidential system in Turkey.