AK Party slams 'dictatorships' criticizing Turkish vote

ANKARA

Dictatorships and countries with sham democracies have no standing to criticize Turkey’s weekend elections, said the spokesman of Turkey’s ruling party on Tuesday.

"Dictatorships with no democratic track record or less than 10 percent voter turnout have no right to criticize Turkey's elections," Omer Celik, spokesman of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, told reporters.

Celik blasted the "dictators" in the region "who win 99 percent of the vote in elections that have less than 10 percent voter turnout."

He added that the 84 percent voter turnout in Sunday's local elections is proof of the strength of Turkish democracy.

Turning to the party’s challenge of preliminary results in the Istanbul mayoral race, Celik said the party abides by the rules and regulations of the Supreme Election Council and will continue to closely follow the process under the law.

Earlier Tuesday, the AK Party challenged election results in Istanbul and appealed for a recount.

Celik called on main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to avoid "harmful" remarks and "manipulative actions."

"This is a legal and transparent process observed by the representatives of all parties. We must avoid premature explanations," Celik said.

Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes nationwide Sunday in elections to choose Turkey’s mayors, city council members, mukhtars (neighborhood officials), and members of elder councils for the next five years.