The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Ekrem Imamoglu won the election for mayor of Istanbul by a very slim margin over the rival candidate, the Justice and Development Party (AKP)’s Binali Yildirim. AKP, the ruling party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appealed to the electoral body to re-run the election, alleging irregularities.
Imamoglu’s win was officially confirmed by the electoral body in mid-April, despite the pending appeal from AKP. In an interview with Rudaw, he vowed to eradicate partisanship, saying “I want to be the most democratic and innovative mayor of Istanbul.”
The YSK said it made the decision to hold a new vote because some polling station staff were not authorized as they were civil servants, Anadolu Agency reported.
Imamoglu told his supporters on Monday not to be “disappointed and give up” their struggle. "We will win and everything will be very fine," he said, in a video he streamed live on social media.
His rival, Yildirim, told journalists that he welcomes the decision. He confirmed that he will stand in the do-over election, but said the most important thing is to "provide the best service to Istanbul."
Imamoglu’s party slammed the ruling. "Running against the AKP in election is allowed, but winning against it is prohibited,” CHP deputy leader Onursal Adiguzel said in a sarcastic tweet.
"This is neither democratic nor legitimate. It is downright dictatorship," he said.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) also condemned the decision, accusing the electoral body of bowing to pressure from AKP.
The YSK "has made an illegitimate, undemocratic decision – violating the law, denying itself, and kneeling to the ruling party's pressure," the party said in a tweet.
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
