AKP ahead in do-over of Turkish local elections
09/06/2009
ANKARA, Turkey -- The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won 12 mayoral seats in a do-over of the March local elections held in 30 municipalities Sunday (June 7th), the High Election Board announced on Monday. It means the AKP bumped up its share of voter support to 42.2%, from 38.9% in March. The main opposition Republican People's Party took ten mayoral seats, according to preliminary results. The Democratic Party gained three seats; the Nationalist Movement Party took two, while the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party and the Motherland Party each won one seat. Irregularities the first time around prompted Sunday's limited election re-runs. (Anadolu news agency, Hurriyet, NTV, TRT, Turkish Press - 08/06/09)