Fri, Feb 10 2012

Ruling party scores victory in Turkey's local elections

Mon, Mar 30 2009 12:01 CET

byClive Leviev-Sawyer

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Ruling party scores victory in Turkey's local elections

VICTOR: Turkey's prime minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses the media at his ruling AK Party headquarters in Ankara.

Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on March 30 2009 that the victory of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in local elections confirmed the confidence of the Turkish people in the party.

Today's Zaman said that, speaking at a news conference at party headquarters, Erdogan said that his party had strengthened its position at the centre of the political spectrum.

Media reports on March 29 said that six people had died and more than 100 were injured in violence during voting in some ethnic Kurdish areas, but overall voting went peacefully.

Commentators said that the weakened Turkish economy, hit by the global crisis, had cost Erdogan the sweeping victory he wanted as a mandate to push ahead with reforms aimed at increasing the country's chances of getting into the European Union.

Daily newspaper Hurriyet quoted Erdogan as saying that the reasons for the party failing to secure an overwhelming victory included media hostility and the financial crisis.

Anatolia agency said that Erdogan's party got about 38.5 per cent of votes countrywide, with the main opposition Republican People's Party getting about 19.7 per cent.
 

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