Turkey’s Supreme Election Board (YSK) has ruled for a recount of votes in Turkey’s Kırklareli province where an independent candidate won Sunday’s local elections according to unofficial results, the Diken news website reported on Thursday.
The YSK made the decision due to objections raised by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which fielded a joint candidate in the province as a result of an alliance they set up for the local elections.
The independent mayoral candidate, Mehmet Siyam Kesimoğlu, was the winner of the election, according to unofficial results.
Following the YSK’s decision, many residents gathered in front of the courthouse to protest the YSK move, while police teams took extensive security measures in the area.
AKP-MHP joint mayoral candidate Derya Bulut received 248 votes less than Kesimoğlu.
The results of the local elections have not been conclusive in many provinces and districts including in İstanbul due to objections from the losing parties and candidates.