EU hails high turnout in Turkey's March 31 local polls

BRUSSELS

The European Union on Monday hailed the high turnout in Sunday's local elections in Turkey.

The high turnout reaffirmed the strong attachment of the Turkish people to the local democratic processes, the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said at a news briefing in Brussels.

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party led the weekend local elections, capturing 15 metropolitan municipalities (larger cities) and 24 cities, according to early results as of Monday morning.

AK Party candidates got the support of 44.42 percent of voters on Sunday, beating the 30.07 percent draw of the main opposition Republican People's Party’s (CHP), which won mayoral races in 11 metropolitan municipalities and 10 cities.

On Sunday, millions of Turkish citizens cast ballots in the local elections to choose Turkey’s mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials), and members of elder councils for the next five years.

*Writing by Sibel Morrow