CHP's İmamoğlu Refutes AKP Claims: 'Difference in İstanbul is 19,552'

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The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who won the mayoral race in İstanbul according to unofficial results, has responded to the claims by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that they reduced the gap after recounting of the votes in İstanbul.

AKP Deputy Chair Ali İhsan Yavuz claimed earlier in the day that "as a result of the correction in 530 ballot boxes, 11,109 votes have been corrected in favor of AKP."

İmamoğlu said in a live stream on Facebook that the current difference between him and AKP candidate Binali Yıldırım is 19,552 votes.

"The process is going on. Counting of the invalid votes is completed in 11 districts. At the moment, the difference is 19,552. It was around 21 thousand when the process began.

"Our rival's votes increased to 4,151,923. According to the simulations that my colleagues made, even if all the invalid votes are counted, the difference around 18 and 20 thousand will be maintained.

"They try to manage the perception"

"They try to manage the perception by saying, '545 boxes of invalid votes were counted and the difference decreased to 11 thousand'. It's not like that.

"Even in the districts where the counting of the invalid votes is completed, the watch continues. I invite all my friends to the watch, don't ever leave those places.

"My valuable friends, the process in continuing swiftly, the YSK (Supreme Election Council) will decide on the results in the shortest time possible.

"But this process should not drag on, I see the happiness of the society on the field." (PT/VK)