Turkish PM warns deputies, mayors of vote losses

ANKARA

PM Erdoğan wants deputies to explain party policies more clearly. AA photo

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan rebuked lawmakers and mayors from Central Anatolian cities yesterday for the recent decline in popular support for his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and warned them to explain party policies better.

Two weeks after gathering with AKP lawmakers, provincial chairs and mayors from the Black Sea region, Erdoğan met with AKP lawmakers and mayors from the Central Anatolian region to discuss the results of a recent public survey conducted by the party. According to the survey, public support for the ruling party declined to 11 percent in the Central Anatolian province of Kırıkkale, which was over 60 percent in the 2012 elections. The AKP’s voter rate in Niğde decreased to 23 percent from 54 percent in 2012 elections result. Erdoğan described the situation as “unacceptable” and chided mayors and lawmakers, sources told the Hürriyet Daily News.

The recent “peace process” was reportedly also among the topics discussed during the closed-door meeting. Erdoğan, who stressed that he is hopeful for the process, said that popular support for the peace process across Turkey is 65 percent and called his deputies and mayors to “explain the process well” to people.