Turkish local elections

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy chairman Ali İhsan Yavuz has submitted official paperwork to the Supreme Election Council (YSK) to annul the results of the March 31 Istanbul mayoral election, with his party seeking a do-over in the entire province. 

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is getting ready to ask the country's Supreme Election Council (YSK) to order a re-vote in entire Istanbul, a party official has said, as the recount process in Maltepe district neared an end late April 14, after the Daily News went to print.

The Supreme Election Board (YSK) has once again delayed reviewing and announcing its decision on the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) numerous appeals to annul the elections in Istanbul's Büyükçekmece district.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and its ally İYİ (Good) Party have called on Turkey's Supreme Election Board (YSK) to not bow to government pressure and urged the body finalize the results of the local elections held 10 days ago.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul mayoral candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu has said his party has confidence in the Supreme Election Board (YSK) and that it would make the right ruling amid claims of vote irregularities in the elections by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which said it will file an objection to the results of the March 31 elections.

Turkey's Supreme Election Council on April 8 partially rejected an appeal by the ruling AKP to recount all votes in Istanbul except for 51 ballot boxes in 21 districts.       

Ankara's newly elected mayor received his certificate of election on April 8 from Turkey's Supreme Election Council (YSK).          

The Supreme Election Board (YSK) is the "boss" of the vote counting process, which continued for a seventh day in Istanbul on April 7 since the March 31 local elections, Turkey's Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül has said, with the ruling party applying to the board for a recount of all votes cast in all districts of Istanbul.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Mansur Yavaş won the mayoral seat in Turkish capital Ankara by over 124,000 votes, claimed a party official on April 5, despite an appeal by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) against the results.

Turkey's main opposition CHP's candidate in Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, called on the High Election Board (YSK) on April 2 to mandate him as elected mayor, after the ruling AKP objected to results that saw him earn a narrow victory over his rival Binali Yıldırım.