Joint Press Conference by Kılıçdaroğlu and Akşener

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The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and İYİ (Good) Party Chair Meral Akşener have held a press conference, commenting on debates regarding election security.

The two parties participated in the March 31 local elections in some cities under the banner of the Nation's Alliance, an informal partnership. In İstanbul, İYİ Party did not nominate a candidate and supported CHP's Ekrem İmamoğlu.

In the press conference, Akşener said, "The fundamental problem is that is you could not ensure ballot box security, you are the ones to blame for that," while Kılıçdaroğlu called the Supreme Election Council (YSK), the highest election authority, to "do its duty."

"It's cheating when another party wins"

Akşener briefly made the following remarks:

"You have been at the helm for 17 years, appointment and employment of public servants have been done by you for 17 years. Elections have been held in this country for 17 years, and your claim was always this: 'The ballot box security is excellent in Turkey.

"When AK Party wins, ballot box security is excellent, but when another party's candidate wins against AK Party, there is cheating. The fundamental problem is that is you could not ensure ballot security, you are the ones to blame for that.

"Our nation will give an answer to those who attempt to extort the will of the nation at the ballot box in a very mature way."

"I call the YSK for duty"

CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu spoke after Akşener, "calling the YSK for duty" by listing seven items ahead of the Council's meeting today on the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) appeals against the results in İstanbul.

"Today, YSK is meeting again. I am calling the YSK for duty.

1- YSK has to be in accordance with the laws and the decisions it took over similar incidents.

2- YSK has to reject the illegal reasons produced by using the state's power by those who lost in the elections.

3- YSK have to not succumb to the pressure which the possessors of the power try to put on them.

4- YSK has to say 'Stop' to the possessors of the power, who want not democracy but an election-free Turkey.

5- "The rule of law or the law of the superior who possess the power?" YSK has to give a loud and clear answer to this.

6-Are there judges or people whom the possessors of the power want to make subcontractors? YSK must show this with its determination on the side of democracy.

7-YSK has to spoil the plot against the democracy that was conspired by the possessors of power by using their powers. This is the historical duty of the YSK. with the decision it will make, YSK will either bring Turkey into daylight or chaos." (HK/VK)