AKP slams EU official's remarks on Turkey polls

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkey's ruling AKP criticized an EU official for his remarks, said that objection process in elections is "a democratic right in Turkey as in European countries.”  

Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik said on March 7’s televised press conference that the objection process is a part of the elections and is a democratic right in Turkey, same in European countries, referred to European Commission's First Vice President Frans Timmermans.     

Çelik added that the objection process is a part of the election process as it's a legitimate right to object the results.     

Timmermans previously claimed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and AKP did not respect the election results as the AKP requested to recount of votes following to Turkey's March 31 local elections.     

In the meantime, the country's foreign ministry spokesman said on April 7: "Turkish people went to the polls on March 31 with a participation rate that is seen in European countries rarely, and they once again showed their commitment to democracy."

"Nevertheless, the call of the European Union authorities to recognize the results, although the official results have not yet been announced in some places, have been recorded as an unfortunate blunder," Hami Aksoy said in a statement.

Click here for local election results in Istanbul according to Anadolu Agency

Click here for local election results in Ankara according to Anadolu Agency

Aksoy said it is a matter of principle to wait for the results of the objections that were raised before the top election body.

He added the "arbitrary and hasty" statements of EU authorities without respecting the judicial process were "great misfortune".

"We invite the EU authorities not to erode the democratic and legal values represented by the European Union for their political enthusiasm and preferences," the spokesman said.