Close calls in many cities as opposition appeals results in many constituencies

ISTANBUL

AKP’s Menderes Türel was elected in Antalya with around 20,000 votes more than his CHP rival, the incumbent Mustafa Akaydın. AA Photo

The March 30 local polls were marked by a very tight race in the Turkish capital Ankara, with rivals from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) appearing neck and neck as the ballots were counted.

But in many other cities, too, rival candidates were separated by only the narrowest of gaps. One close battleground was the northwestern province of Yalova, where AKP candidate Yakup Koçal won by just a single vote over the CHP’s Vefa Salman. The CHP, however, has appealed the results, which will likely be subject to a recount.

Meanwhile, the ultimate difference that allowed Sırrı Sakık, one of the key figures of the Peace and Democracy Party’s (BDP), to win the eastern province of Ağrı over the AKP’s candidate was just 10 votes.

Results in two southern metropoles, Antalya and Adana, were also both determined in a nail-biting race.

The AKP’s Menderes Türel was elected in Antalya with around 20,000 votes more than his CHP rival, the incumbent Mustafa Akaydın. Controversy emerged in the populous Kepez district after EU Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, an Antalya MP, appealed the count at a courthouse. Tense arguments erupted between Çavuşoğlu and Akaydın, who also went to the courthouse to object to the appeal.

In Adana, Nationalist Movement Party’s (MHP) candidate Hüseyin Sözlü declared victory over the AKP’s Abdullah Torun after a tense vote count. The MHP has also appealed on the count in six of Adana's districts.

The CHP has also appealed the results in a total of 11 districts, including ones in Istanbul and İzmir.