Vote recount narrows gap between Istanbul mayor candidates

ISTANBUL

As vote recount continues in Istanbul, a total of 13,969 votes have turned in favor of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, a party official said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference, the party’s Deputy Chairman Ali Ihsan Yavuz said the vote difference between AK Party and opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has reduced to less than 18,000.

"I am talking of a difference that fell from 29,000 to less than 18,000," Yavuz stressed.

On Wednesday, responding to a legal contest by the AK Party, the Supreme Election Council decided to re-examine some votes in seven districts of Istanbul.

According to unofficial results, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate Ekrem Imamoglu leads Istanbul with 48.79% of the votes, whereas Binali Yildirim of AK Party follows with 48.51% of the votes.

However, the AK Party has said a recount might change the results.

Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes nationwide on Sunday 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.

According to unofficial results, the AK Party is leading in 15 metropolitan municipalities (larger cities) and 24 smaller cities.

Writing by Fatih Hafız Mehmet