Erdoğan regrets major setback in local polls for his ruling party

DPA
·1 min read
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Turkish President and leader of Justice and Development (AK) party Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and his wife greet citizens from the balcony of the party's headquarters following the local elections. -/Turkish Presidency/dpa
Turkish President and leader of Justice and Development (AK) party Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and his wife greet citizens from the balcony of the party's headquarters following the local elections. -/Turkish Presidency/dpa
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed disappointment with the results of local elections that showed a major setback for his ruling AKP party.

"Unfortunately, we were unable to achieve the result we desired and hoped for in the local election test," Erdoğan told supporters at his party headquarters in capital Ankara.

Main opposition CHP party secured the highest number of mayoral seats in 81 cities according to unofficial preliminary results shared by state news agency Anadolu.

Observers called the result a historic defeat for Erdogan's Islamic conservative party.

The secular CHP was able to defend the largest metropolis of Istanbul and the capital Ankara against the AKP with a large lead, Anadolu reported, citing 90% of the votes counted.

"We will honestly assess the results of the elections ... and courageously exercise self-criticism," Erdoğan told his supporters.

Ten months after his re-election as president, Sunday's poll was seen as a test of popularity for 70-year-old Erdogan and his party.

Turkish President and leader of Justice and Development (AK) party Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses citizens from the balcony of the party's headquarters following the local elections. -/Turkish Presidency/dpa
Turkish President and leader of Justice and Development (AK) party Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses citizens from the balcony of the party's headquarters following the local elections. -/Turkish Presidency/dpa
Polling station officials count ballot papers after the end of the local elections in Turkey. Bilal Seckin/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Polling station officials count ballot papers after the end of the local elections in Turkey. Bilal Seckin/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
A woman casts her vote during local elections at Beylikduzu Emin Yukseloglu High School. Tolga Ildun/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
A woman casts her vote during local elections at Beylikduzu Emin Yukseloglu High School. Tolga Ildun/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
A woman casts her vote during local elections at Beylikduzu Emin Yukseloglu High School. Tolga Ildun/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
A woman casts her vote during local elections at Beylikduzu Emin Yukseloglu High School. Tolga Ildun/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa