Iran Press/
Asia: Turkey’s Supreme Election Council (YSK) on Monday announced that a do-over election in Istanbul will be held on June 23, according to Turkish media.
The council members accepted the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's objection to the local election results in Istanbul with seven votes in favor and four against, reported Iran Press citing the Turkish media.
Under pressure from Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Supreme Election Council (YSK), cancelled the results of 31 March Istanbul mayoral elections narrowly won by Ekrem Imamoglu, a rising star in Turkish politics.
According to the YSK, the decision was taken as some presiding officers and polling staffs, who are supposed to be civil servants as per Turkish law, served during the elections.
The mayoral certificate of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)'s Ekrem Imamoglu has also been cancelled by the council.
"With this decision, our demand for re-election has been vindicated," said Recep Ozel, AK Party's YSK representative.
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is to hold an extraordinary assembly meeting today (Tuesday 7 May) under the chairmanship of the party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes nationwide on March 31 in local elections to choose mayors, city council members, and other officials for the next five years.
Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun says YSK’s decision should be seen as an effort to accurately reflect the national will.
The current Turkish Minister of the Interior, Süleyman Soylu has been appointed as Istanbul interim Mayor until the upcoming election next June.
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