Re-Elections to Be Held in Yusufeli, Artvin Upon Objection of CHP

* Photograph: Gökhan Zobar / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

The Supreme Election Council (YSK) has ruled that March 31 local elections shall be cancelled in Yusufeli in Turkey's Black Sea province of Artvin and re-elections shall be held in the district on June 2, 2019.

After the last recount of votes, Eyüp Aytekin, the candidate of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won the elections by three votes.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) objected to the local election results. Evaluating the objection of the CHP, the YSK has detected that two voters under legal disability cast votes in the district.

Accordingly, the YSK has ruled that the election be cancelled in Yusufeli since the margin has fallen to a single vote.

Re-elections will be held in Yusufeli on June 2, 2019.

CHP: Our application concluded in our favor

Barış Demirci, the candidate of the CHP for Yusufeli Mayorship, has shared the following message on his social media accounts:

"Our application to the YSK has been concluded in our favor. Elections have been cancelled. Re-election will be held on June 2. The reasoned decision has not been delivered to us yet. We are waiting for the decision."

The first count said CHP candidate came first

When the votes cast for District Mayorship of Yusufeli were counted for the first time, CHP candidate Barış Demirci came first with a margin of two votes. After the AKP objected to the result, the votes were counted again and, this time, AKP candidate Eyüp Tekin came first by three votes. However, four voting papers could not be located in the ballot box.

In response, minutes were taken down upon the objection of Barış Demirci and an objection was raised to the Provincial Election Council. When votes in six other ballot boxes were recounted, one other voting paper could also not be located. The AKP candidate won the elections by a single vote.

Since five voting papers in total could not be located in Yusufeli, the CHP requested that re-elections be held in the district. (AÖ/SD)