Türkiye’s Erdogan concedes ruling party’s electoral loss — RT World News
The president vowed that the setback in Sunday's municipal elections would be a turning point for the Justice and Development Party
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan admitted the electoral defeat of the Justice and Development Party, after it was expected to lose to the opposition in the municipal elections that took place on Sunday.
Top offices in Turkey's largest cities were among those contested at the ballot box. The ruling party's main rival, the Republican People's Party, managed to retain the mayoralties of Istanbul and Ankara – the country's economic powerhouse and capital, respectively. Erdogan sought to regain the main cities that his party gave up five years ago.
The CHP won 36 out of Turkey's 81 provinces, including some traditional AKP strongholds, Anadolu news agency reported, citing preliminary results. It received 37% of the votes at the national level, compared to 36% for the Justice and Development Party. The results represent the strongest electoral performance of the secular nationalist political force in two decades. The result turned the tables on Erdogan, who defeated a coalition of six opposition parties led by the Republican People's Party in last year's presidential elections.
“We could not get the result we wanted in the local election test.” Erdogan said after the forecasts arrived, describing them as… “turning point” For the Justice and Development Party. “We will correct our mistakes and correct our shortcomings.”
“Regardless of the results, the winner of this election is first and foremost our democracy and the national will.” The president added.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozil delivered a similar message in his celebratory speech. He said: “There is no loser in this victory. Our success is no one’s defeat.” He also said that voters have “We decided to change the image that has persisted for 22 years in Turkey and open the door to a new political climate in our country.” In reference to the period of Erdogan's rule.
Political experts say the AKP's loss is largely due to Turkey's economic difficulties over the past several years, especially in the wake of the devastation caused by last year's earthquake that killed more than 53,000 people. A new political force called the New Welfare Party, which shares the conservative religious stance of the AKP, appeared to have attracted supporters who were dissatisfied with the government's handling of the economy.
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