Local Elections in Kurdistan and Turkey: LIVE BLOG

Local elections have been held in 81 provinces, 973 districts and 390 towns in Kurdistan and Turkey today.

LOCAL ELECTIONS

Local elections have been held in 81 provinces, 973 districts and 390 towns in Northern Kurdistan and Turkey today. The polls opened at 7 am local time (8 am in Central Europe) in Kurdistan and closed at 4 pm local time.

In addition to mayors, 50,336 village and neighborhood heads (muhtar), the first general council and municipal council members will be elected in local elections.

23:47
Imamoğlu: Turkey will be another Turkey

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu made a statement after being relected. "We have won the election," said Imamoğlu, adding, "I would like to thank our people, children, women, young people, and the alliance of conscience formed by the people for strengthening the Istanbul alliance."

Imamoğlu said: "Looking at the Istanbul alliance, I would like to say this: the nation not only decides who will govern, but also assigns duties. We are obliged to understand what message the voters gave us and what task the people gave us. Those who ignore the duties given by the nation at the ballot box will eventually lose.

Everyone has the obligation to correctly understand the duties given by the ballot box. Today, the people have given me the full responsibility of being a municipality. Together with our 16 million citizens, we have made partisanship a thing of the past. Istanbul responded not only to me, but also to the president and the government."

22:57
AKP usurpation of people's will

The AKP brought 46,901 thousand soldiers and police officers to 31 centers of Kurdistan as voters. However, the AKP lost in many centers despite the strong military and police votes. The DEM Party will object to the results, which are not yet official.

22:56
Celebrations continue in Hakkari (Colemêrg)

22:54
Election celebration in Batman (Êlih)

22:15
People are celebrating on the streets in Tatvan

22:04
Election victory is celebrated with enthusiasm in Van


22:01

DEM Party wins in Dargeçit despite the transported voters

The counting process was completed in Mardin’s Dargeçit district where the government registered hundreds of soldiers and police officers as "voters". According to the initial results; the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) won the election in the district, receiving over 50 per cent of the votes, while the AKP remained at 43 per cent.

Following the results from the polls, celebrations started in front of the DEM Party district building in Dargeçit.

On the other hand, according to the initial results; DEM Party is leading the elections in Artuklu, Dêrik, Kızıltepe, Nusaybin and Mazıdağı districts by a large margin.

21:47

Enthusiastic celebrations in Amed
 


21:41

Celebrations began in Nusaybin

A convoy continues to tour the streets of Nusaybin district of Mardin, celebrating the victory of the DEM Party.


21:36

DEM Party in the lead in Akdeniz

According to the results of the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayoral Election, CHP candidate Vahap Seçer, who was determined by the consensus of the city (supported by DEM Party), is leading with 37.72 percent of the votes, while in the largest district of Akdeniz, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) candidates Nuriye Arslan and Hoşyar Sarıyıldız are in the lead with 31.98 percent of the votes. In Akdeniz, where 24.46 percent of the ballot boxes were opened, masses flocked to the DEM Party's Akdeniz district office.


21:34

AKP members who lost the election in Hilvan set the ballot box on fire

AKP members who lost the elections in the Hilvan district of Urfa set a ballot box on fire. AKP supporters set fire to the ballot box numbered 1119 in Yeni Mahalle and beat DEM Party polling officials and police officers who tried to prevent them.

According to the wet signed results of the burned ballot box; DEM Party received 96 votes, AKP 58 votes, YRP 35 votes. In the district where DEM Party is in the lead, the party members took the wet signed results of the ballot box numbered 1119 under protection.

DEM Party officials will file a criminal complaint against AKP members who burned the ballot box.

21:32

People celebrate DEM Party's victory in Ağrı


21:28

Election celebrations in Van


21:16

İpekyolu Candidate: AKP's war policies have failed

DEM Party candidates Cevdet Altındağ and Canan Uzunay won the election in İpekyolu, the largest district of Van. Cevdet Altındağ, who spoke to ANF regarding the election victory, said the following: "The trustee and AKP mentality has lost. Our people showed their stance again. We see that even AKP voters have distanced themselves from the AKP. The peoples of Turkey gave the biggest response to the war policies at the ballot box. They wanted to break the will of the people with the trustee practice, but they failed again. Our people reflected their will to the ballot box in the strongest way. DEM has achieved victory in Van and its districts and everything will be even better. As of tomorrow, we will start to recover the damages of the trustee, and we will share our services and projects with the public in a short time. We will respond to what our people did at the ballot box with the services we will produce in the municipality."

20:51

People in Hakkari have started celebrations

In Hakkari, where 85 percent of the ballot boxes have been opened, people have already started to gather in front of the provincial building to celebrate DEM Party's victory. While the slogans "Bijî Serok Apo" (Long Live Leader Öcalan) and "Hakkari is proud of you" were frequently chanted, the party executives asked the people not to leave the polling stations for the security of the ballot boxes.


20:44

Police attack DEM Party members in Şırnak

After the polls closed in Şırnak and the counting of votes started, the police attacked the party members who gathered in front of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Provincial Organisation building. The police used pepper spray and tried to disperse the party members. Several people, including DEM Party Provincial Co-Chair Abdullah Güngen, were detained during the attack.

20:42

DEM Party victory celebrated in Muş

According to the unofficial election results, DEM Party came first in Muş centre and the districts of Varto, Bulanık and Malazgirt. Kurdish politics' winning the municipality for the first time in the centre of Muş is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the streets. The people took to the streets after Iftar and celebrated their victory by dancing.


20:30

Voters in Kurdistan frustrate the trustee and illegal voter schemes

While the counting of votes for the General Elections for Local Authorities continues, the majority of the voters in Kurdistan cities cast their votes in favour of the DEM Party. The will of the people prevailed in the ballot boxes despite the thousands of police and soldiers deployed to the region by the AKP government months in advance.

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan announced that they have identified 46,901 voters transported to 31 centres in Kurdistan. Despite the attempt to usurp the will of the people through the transported voters, the DEM Party has come out ahead in the ballot boxes opened so far in 11 cities, according to the data shared by Anadolu Agency.

AMED

Opened Ballot Box rate:  12.56 percent

DEM Party 62.47 percent

AKP: 17.14 per cent

HÜDAPAR 7.36 per cent

CHP: 3.00 per cent

YRP: 2.78 per cent

MARDİN

Opened Ballot Box rate:  17.63 percent

DEM Party 54.33 percent

AKP: 30.09 percent

YRP: 4.75 percent

CHP: 2.15 percent

HÜDAPAR 1.96 percent

BATMAN

Opened Ballot Box rate: 6.68 percent

DEM Party 63.78 percent

HÜDAPAR 15.87 percent

AKP: 14.06 percent

CHP: 2.15 percent

YRP: 1.16 per cent

SİİRT

Opened Ballot Box rate: 43.25 percent

DEM Party 49.04 percent

AKP: 39.07 percent

CHP: 2.21 percent

YRP: 1.71 percent

HÜDAPAR 1.51 percent

BİTLİS

Opened Ballot Box rate: 58.77 percent

DEM Party: 38.82 percent

AKP: 37.38 percent

YRP: 7.56 percent

HÜDAPAR :2.36 percent

Saadet: 1.70 percent

MUŞ

Opened Ballot Box rate:  34.09 percent

DEM Party: 38.19 percent

AKP: 23.80 percent

YRP: 10.28 percent

İYİ Party: 4.05

HÜDAPAR: 3.05 percent

DERSİM

Opened Ballot Box rate:  23.75 percent

DEM Party 41.70 percent

CHP: 34.66 percent

AKP: 15.31 percent

H. AYGÜN 4.10 percent

Zafer Partisi: 1.05 percent

AĞRI

Opened Ballot Box rate:  50.00 percent

DEM Party: 49.25 percent

AKP: 35.91 percent

YRP: 4.54 percent

CHP: 2.09 percent

İYİ Party: 1.21 percent

IĞDIR

Opened Ballot Box rate:  85.31 percent

DEM Party 45.96 percent

AKP: 44.34 percent

İYİ Party: 4.22 percent

CHP: 2.42 percent

YRP: 0.78 percent

VAN

Opened Ballot Box rate:  24.97 percent

DEM Party: 54.39 percent

AKP: 28.03 percent

YRP: 5.05 percent

CHP: 2.11 percent

HÜDAPAR 1.54 percent

HAKKARİ

Opened Ballot Box rate:  47.11 percent

DEM Party 44.40 percent

AKP: 41.54 percent

CHP: 1.07 percent

YRP: 0.59 percent

Zafer Partisi: 0.44 percent

ŞIRNAK

Opened Ballot Box rate:  80.65 percent

AKP: 47.02 percent

DEM Party 41.53 percent

CHP: 3.35 percent

YRP: 2.77 percent

HÜDAPAR 1.73 percent

HAKKARİ

Opened Ballot Box rate:  71.61 percent

AKP: 46.24 percent

DEM Party 42.98 percent

CHP: 3.08 percent

YRP: 2.53 percent

HÜDAPAR 1.84 percent

URFA

Opened Ballot Box rate:  24.64 percent

YRP: 36.61 percent

AKP: 34.57 percent

DEM Party 22.21 percent

CHP: 1.30 percent

HÜDAPAR 1.03 percent

ADIYAMAN

Opened Ballot Box rate:  14.26 percent

CHP: 48.40 percent

AKP: 28.51 percent

YRP: 13.60 percent

DEM Party: 2.31 percent

Saadet: 1.1 percent

BİNGÖL

Opened Ballot Box rate:  94.55 percent

AKP: 35.55 percent

DEM Party 26.58 percent

YRP: 21.57 percent

HÜDAPAR: 9.88 percent

CHP: 1.91 percent

ERZURUM

Opened Ballot Box rate:  34.89 percent

AKP: 49.29 percent

İYİ Party 21.66 percent

DEM Party 6.98 percent

CHP: 6.26 percent

Zafer Partisi: 4.39 percent

KARS

Opened Ballot Box rate:  27.69 percent

MHP: 38.06 percent

DEM Party 26.09 percent

CHP: 16.65 percent

İYİ Party: 8.89 percent

YRP: 3.32 percent

ARDAHAN

Opened Ballot Box rate:  88.00 percent

CHP: 41.91 percent

AKP: 39.75 percent

DEVA Party 3.07 percent

HÜDAPAR 0.21 percent

YRP: 0.19 percent

ELAZIĞ

Opened Ballot Box rate:  49.08 percent

AKP: 39.17 percent

YRP: 20.99 percent

CHP: 15.29 percent

MHP: 10.81 percent

Saadet: 6.36 percent

MALATYA

Opened Ballot Box rate:  34.89 percent

AKP: 48.81 percent

CHP: 36.99 percent

YRP: 9.31 percent

İ. GEZER: 0.84

DEM Party 0.51 percent

MARAŞ

Opened Ballot Box rate:  19.26 percent

AKP: 40.50 percent

YRP: 29.17 percent

CHP: 19.55 percent

İYİ Party 4.11 percent

Zafer Partisi: 1.45 percent

ANTEP

Opened Ballot Box rate:  39.99 percent

AKP: 37.20 percent

CHP: 30.05 percent

YRP: 16.30 percent

DEM Party: 4.72 percent

İYİ Party: 1.68 percent

ERZİNCAN

Opened Ballot Box rate:  45.37 percent

MHP: 44.88 percent

YÜKSEL ÇAKIR 27.57

CHP: 18.43 percent

YRP: 2.06 percent

İYİ Party 1.67 percent

20:19
DEM Party received 89 percent of the votes in Fis, where the PKK was founded

In the Fis neighborhood of Amed's Licê district, where the PKK was founded, the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) became the first party with 89 percent of the votes. In the village where 190 voters cast their votes, 170 votes went to the DEM Party.

20:18
DEM Party won in Tatvan

The People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) won in Tatvan (Tetwan). After voting, hundreds of people gathered at the DEM Party Tatvan District Organization building. 

20:14
Amed Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor: Let's protect our votes

DEM Party Amed Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor Serra Bucak evaluated the election results so far to ANF. Serra Bucak said: "The Kurdish people have shown a great will. This must continue. Let's not bow to the tricks and pressures of the system. Let's protect the ballot boxes."

Bucak said: "According to the results received so far, we are ahead with 63/64 percent of the votes. We are in the provincial building now. Our people are here. Our people protect the ballot boxes. I call out to all Kurdistan's people. Not all votes have been counted yet. Let's protect the ballot boxes and our votes. The Kurdish people have revealed a great will."

19:23
AKP is experiencing a great collapse

According to the local election results announced so far, the AKP-MHP government is experiencing a major collapse throughout Turkey. All the tricks of AKP-MHP were not enough to change this result.

19:22
Record votes in Roboskî for DEM Party

The DEM Party received 1,052 votes in the 8 ballot boxes in Roboskî, where 34 people, including 19 children, were killed after being bombed by Turkish warplanes on 28 December 2011. The AKP received 191 votes. It was said that those who voted for the AKP were the village guards and the soldiers who were brought to the region.

18:53

People in Amed started celebrating in front of the DEM Party building

While counting continues in Kurdistan and Turkey, the DEM Party is leading by a large margin in many cities of Kurdistan.

Following the vote results in Amed, where the DEM Party was ahead in the central provinces and districts, people started to flock in front of the DEM Party provincial building.

18:49

DEM Party wins in Dersim city center

The final results have been confirmed in the city center of Dersim. According to the results, DEM Party co-mayor candidates Birsen Orhan and Cevdet Konak were elected with 6,453 votes. CHP, which ranked second, received 5,262 votes.

16:55

Journalists removed from polling stations during vote counting

The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) banned journalists from filming during vote counting. In some constituencies, journalists who were filming during the vote counting were removed from the polling stations by the police.

According to Election Law No. 298, there is no obstacle to taking video footage during polling station procedures for news purposes.  

16:49

İHD announces its interim report: Delegations blocked, soldiers transported as voters

The Human Rights Association (IHD) announced the "Interim Report on Violations in the Local Elections of 31 March 2024". In its written statement, IHD stated that they had independent election observers in 22 provinces.

The statement said: "It has been learned that security forces did not allow our 8-person observer group assigned to Siirt Centre; 7-person observer group assigned to Ağrı; 5-person independent observer group assigned to Yüksekova- Hakkari; 14-person independent observer group assigned to Mersin; 46-person independent observer group assigned to Van to observe the elections in some schools in the name of our association. It has been conveyed by the security forces that the observation of İHD delegations in Van province was prevented by the Governorate's decision."

16:37

AKP members voted in 5 different locations in Halfeti, Urfa

In the Halfeti district of Urfa, AKP mayoral candidate, current mayor Şeref Albayrak and a group of 100-150 people accompanying him voted in 5 different neighbourhoods, 4 of them rural.

In addition, images circulated in the early hours of the morning show envelopes with AKP stamps and YSK seals. It was also claimed that there were ballot papers and envelopes brought from outside of Halfeti.

16:25

Two killed in fight in Siirt

A fight broke out in Merke village of Siirt during the mukhtar election. It is stated that 2 people died and 4 people were wounded in the fight, while another person was detained after the fight. 

16:05

Voting ends in Turkey

The voting process for the local elections has ended in Turkey. The DEM Party called for the protection of the ballot boxes.

15:40

In Urfa, ballot papers sealed for the AKP in advance have been exposed.


15:38

AKP Midyat mayoral candidate attacked polling station attendant

According to reports, AKP mayoral candidate for Midyat Municipality, Veysi Şahin, and his entourage attacked İ.A., a ballot box attendant of the Democratic Party at Atatürk Secondary School. The polling station attendant was injured and taken to hospital. A report was filed about the incident.

15:36
Statement from YSK

Supreme Electoral Board (YSK) President Ahmet Yener made a statement about the elections. Yener said, "As of 17.00, the procedures in the remaining provinces will be completed. At 17.00, we will give general information about all vote counting processes. Then, our board will meet and decide at what hours the broadcast ban will be lifted."

15:31

A photo from Iğdır: People went to the polls to vote for the DEM Party

15:28
More images of AKP's election fraud in Kurdistan


15:27

People went to the polls to send the trustees away

In Batman, young people, women, elderly and disabled people went to the polls to vote early in the morning. DEM Party Batman Co-Mayoral Candidate Gülistan Sönük cast her vote and called for the protection of the ballot boxes. Gülistan Sönük, who cast her vote at Cumhuriyet Primary School in Cumhuriyet Neighbourhood, said that the Kurdish people will come out of this election with success and send the trustees away with a high vote rate.

A 98-year-old woman who voted in Pazaryeri Neighbourhood, the elderly people who came to vote with their walking sticks and those who went to vote by making victory signs also drew attention.

DBP Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır, who cast his vote in Amed, was informed about the security of the ballot boxes.


15:16

DEM Party Spokesperson made statement

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan made a statement at the Headquarters. Doğan said: "We would like to tell voters that they have the right to cast their votes if they are still in the queue after 4pm, i.e. after the closing time."

Doğan added that "Outside voters were registered in 31 cities" and said: "It is not just a usurpation of will, it is a ballot box coup. This should not be only an issue for the DEM Party. Opposition parties should raise their voice against usurpation of will and theft."

15:15

People of Kurdistan claim their will

Despite all attacks, tricks and obstructions, people go to vote in Ağrı. From the elderly to the sick, the people of Kurdistan are defending their will.


15:13

People in Şırnak reacted against AKP members, calling them thieves.


15:11

DEM Party candidates: Let's protect our will

In Antalya, people voted in schools where ballot boxes were installed. DEM Party candidates in the city called on the people to go to the polls, vote and protect their will.

15:06

Queues formed at polling stations in Adana

People of Adana went to the schools where the ballot boxes were set up in the early hours of the morning and voted. While the density of voters around the schools attracted attention, queues formed at the polling stations.

15:01

High turnout in Hatay, people vote in containers

People in Hatay, which was affected by the Maraş-based earthquakes on 6 February 2023, voted in containers. While 3,424 ballot boxes were set up in Hatay for local elections, containers were placed in the gardens of schools damaged in the earthquake.

14:53

Politicians and lawyers on duty in Mersin

People in Akdeniz district of Mersin went to the polling stations to cast their votes from the early hours of the morning. While the school gardens were full, DEM Party members were welcomed with great interest during the election.

Akdeniz Municipality co-mayoral candidates Nuriye Arslan and Hoşyar Sarıyıldız were welcomed with applause at schools. Arslan and Sarıyıldız called for the protection of the ballot boxes. DEM Party executives and lawyers from the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) also visited the schools to prevent any irregularities that may occur at the polls.

14:19

DEM Party: We will win no matter what you do

DEM Party Mardin MP Beritan Güneş and Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayoral Candidate Ahmet Türk made a joint statement. In the statement, they said, "No matter what you do, the people of Savur will go to the polls, cast their votes and protect the ballot box. We will win this election."

13:57

Ahmet Türk: Everyone should go to vote!

DEM Party Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayoral Candidate Ahmet Türk called on everyone to vote and protect the ballot boxes.

13:46

AKP's fake voters were filmed voting en masse in Karaçoban

In the Hacılar neighbourhood of Erzurum’s Karaçoban district, fake voters belonging to AKP were filmed voting en masse.

According to the law, law enforcement officers should wait at a certain distance from the polling station and outside the voting area. Footage from the ground shows law enforcement officers standing inside the school where the voting is taking place.

13:35

DEM Party Spokesperson: Everyone should go to vote!

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan held a press conference at the party headquarters regarding the ongoing elections. Doğan said, "Close your ears to information pollution and cast your votes. We will succeed".

13:31

Deliberate obstruction of voters and fines in Iğdır

Iğdır Election Crisis Coordination reported the scandals during the election process in the city. According to the information shared by the crisis desk, the minibuses carrying voters were prevented and fined.

According to reports, riot police were deployed in the gardens of the schools, police units filled the corridors and a bus of voters travelling from Istanbul was stopped at the Suveren checkpoint and one person was detained for an hour. As a result of the intervention by lawyers, the detained voter was released, but the arrival of the voters continued to be delayed, and a brawl broke out. The Kris desk stated that there were continuous delays and obstructions.

13:22

Most of the 5 thousand voters are not registered in Şırnak

Hüseyin Turhanlı was attacked in the garden of Ömer Keçecigil Primary and Secondary School in Şırnak when he reacted against the "transported" soldiers, saying, "You are thieves."

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Şırnak MP Zeki İrmez, Provincial Co-Chair Abdullah Güngen and party members blocked the soldiers and reacted.

Nearly 5 thousand voters are set to go to the polls in the school in question. However, most of those on the list are not registered in Şırnak.

13:13

A man votes for AKP 11 times in Viranşehir

At a primary school in Gözlek neighbourhood of the Viranşehir district in Urfa, a male voter by the name of Sait Günaydın announced on his social media account that he voted for AKP 11 times. He took a photo of the ballot papers and sent it to another person with the message "Votes for the AKP. Here you see, the Kurd, I cast 11 votes." When the other person said that he would file a complaint against him, he said, "I will kill you."

13:02

Woman in burka votes 3 times in Muş

A woman wearing a black burka voted three times in different ballot boxes in Mehmet Akif Ersoy Primary School in the centre of Muş province.

DEM Party Crisis Coordination Centre intervened the incident and requested a report to be kept. After the efforts of the crisis centre, a report was filed regarding the ballot boxes where the woman voted. 

Meanwhile, video footage from Malazgirt shows voters transported to the district lining up to vote en masse.

12:53

AKP members vote en masse in Muş

It was revealed that in Güzeltepe Secondary School located in Güzeltepe neighbourhood in Muş centre, collective voting was carried out in the ballot box numbered 1034 under the leadership of the wife of AKP mayoral candidate Feyat Asya.  The AKP members attacked the polling station staff who intervened in the mass voting and quickly left the school after the reactions increased. 

DEM Party Muş MP Sümeyye Boz said that the votes of the ballot box where mass voting was used should be cancelled. As a result of the intensive efforts of the MP and the lawyers, a report was kept on the incident.  Sümeyye Boz said, "There are incidents that take place in front of the eyes of security forces. Some people are sent to the booth together with illiterate citizens. This election should actually be invalid. We are here to reflect the will of our people to the ballot box, and we will protect the will of the people."

12:41

Bakırhan: AKP mobilises illegal voters in Kurdish provinces, makes them vote

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan cast his vote in Ankara.  Tuncer Bakırhan said, "I hope it will be a democratic election, but before we came here, we all saw how illegal voters were moved to all Kurdish provinces.  Military, police and outsider voters who do not live in those cities are voting. I think the election was rigged from the very beginning. Despite this, we call on our people to go to the polls and vote.”

“Today, I was very happy and proud to vote for the most beautiful woman, the most qualified, intellectual and resilient woman in the world,” Bakırhan said, referring to imprisoned Kurdish politician Gültan Kışanak, who is running for mayor of Ankara for the DEM Party today.

12:29

Soldier in Kars confesses coming ‘from outside the province'

In Kars, where thousands of voters were transported to vote in today’s elections, soldiers brought to Cumhuriyet and Atatürk Secondary Schools by buses voted collectively. DEM Party deputy Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit asked a soldier "Where did you come from?" during the mass voting and received the answer "We came from outside the province." Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit made a statement about the incident and said, "There are soldiers brought from outside. The will of the people of Kars will be usurped through these transported voters."

Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit called on the people of Kars to defend their will and added: "Do not let people who have no ties to this city, who will never visit this city again, determine the fate of this city."

12:18

Amed Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayoral Candidates cast their votes


12:16

AKP candidate and Yüksekova district governor visit polling stations together

Hundreds of transported soldiers voted in Büyükçiftlik and Esendere towns in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari. In Esendere, Ömer Cimşit, the district governor of Yüksekova, visited the polling stations with Dırbaz Büyüksu, the mayor and candidate of AKP.  Despite all the vote transport, people went to the polling stations in the early hours of the morning and defended their will.

12:10

Ahmet Türk: We are competing with the state

Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayoral candidate Ahmet Türk cast his vote. Ahmet Türk said, "We cast our votes for the elections. We are not competing with any political party. We are competing with the state itself. We are competing with the police, governor and district governor. They are trying to use another method by bringing thousands of soldiers and police to try to usurp the will of the people. In Savur, Kerboran, they try to ignore the will of the people by bringing in transported votes from other places. Of course, this is unfair, this is unlawful. This is a danger to the democratic future. I believe that our people see this. We want all our people to be at the polls in these local elections and we wish the election to be auspicious."


11:56

Co-Mayoral Candidate for Amed Metropolitan Municipality: Today’s elections will lead to democracy and peace

Amed (Diyarbakır) Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayoral Candidate Serra Bucak cast her vote. Serra Bucak said, "Today will be an election in which the will of the people of Amed will be reflected in the ballot box and this will lead to democracy and peace. Our people should not leave the polling stations until the vote counting is over and protect their votes."

Kayapınar co-mayoral candidate Berivan Sincar also cast her vote in the same school.

11:46

Footage of AKP theft in Dargeçit district of Mardin

 


 

 

11:44

DEM Party member murdered by AKP members in a village of Sur

In Ağaçlıdere village of Sur, DEM Party field spokesperson and polling station attendant Emin Çelik was murdered by AKP members.

Voting for local elections started in Kurdistan and Turkey in the morning. Before the elections, the voters transported to Kurdistan cities by the ruling AKP went to the schools to cast their votes. In Kulp, Dicle and Sur districts of Amed, clashes broke out between the people and the transported voters.

In Sur's Ağaçlıdere village, DEM Party field spokesperson and polling station attendant Emin Çelik, who had been threatened by the AKP mukhtar candidate and his relatives 20 days ago, was murdered in an armed attack. 8 people were wounded in the village and the soldiers banned entry and exit to the village. Fighting in the village continues.

11:31

AKP organises illegal voting in Karaçoban

It is reported that illegal voters were allowed to vote in the morning in the Karaçoban district of Erzurum. The people of the district took photographs of the illegal voters who were registered at the District Security Directorate. Previously, it was revealed that the addresses of 360 illegal voters identified in the district were at the police headquarters. Reacting to the illegal voters, the residents of the district shared posts stating that they would win despite the "AKP" supporters.

11:25

DEM Party Van Municipality Co-Mayoral candidates call on people not to leave the ballot boxes

DEM Party Van Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayoral candidates Neslihan Şedal and Abdullah Zeydan cast their votes and called on the people to go to the polls. Neslihan Şedal said, "We appeal to all people and young people; let's protect our will by casting our votes and let's not leave the ballot boxes until the results are finalised." Abdullah Zeydan said, "Our friends working at the polls today should not leave the ballot boxes until the last procedures are completed, and they should protect the ballot boxes."

11:11

Election fraud in Şırnak: Soldiers brought from other cities are voting

It was detected that the soldiers who were transported to the centre of Şırnak from cities such as Ankara, Muğla and Aksaray voted en masse.  It was seen that the transported soldiers mainly voted at Ömer Keçici Secondary School in Gündoğdu Neighbourhood.

Out of 275 voters in the ballot box numbered 1012 in Fındık Primary School in Fındık town of Güçlükonak district, 175 are soldiers. The voters are registered in Isparta, Antalya and Muğla.

17 ballot boxes were set up in Şenoba town of Uludere district. While soldiers were stationed in the gardens of every school in the town, Newroz Uysal Aslan, DEM Party MP for Şırnak, reacted to the situation and stated that soldiers should wait outside the school.


11:06

DEM Party: Let's go to the polls and vote, protect the ballot boxes

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) made a written statement on irregularities encountered during the voting process.

A statement on the DEM Party's social media accounts said: "We are at the polling stations together with our observers, polling station attendants, MPs and executives. We had previously detected the fake voter scheme centrally planned by the government and shared it with the public. Today, our friends at the polls and our people who went to vote caught these fake voters red-handed and documented them.

Our party officials detected state officials who tried to vote in more than one ballot box in favour of the ruling party, recorded this situation and filed a criminal complaint against them. We will not allow any fraud.

Whatever the government does, it will fail. The will and determination of our people will frustrate all kinds of tricks. We call on everyone to go to the polls, protect their will and the ballot boxes."

10:50

MP Sakik: Protect the ballot boxes

DEM Party MP Sırrı Sakık said: “Today is a day of honour. Regardless of your political view, stand against the usurpation of will. I appeal to you, the security forces coming here; if you have faith in God, do not usurp the will of the people of Ağrı on this holy day. Do you feel comfortable with this? There is a thief in this city. Dear public opinion in Turkey, we have been crying out to you for days. Thousands of people have been brought to Ağrı, and they want to usurp the will of this city.  We have been shouting out for days. They want to besiege this city. Unfortunately, the entire Kurdish geography was not talked about as much as Istanbul was. Everyone talked about other places. You are all Kurdish enemies, the government and the opposition all alike. I call on the people of Ağrı to protect the ballot boxes."


10:24

AKP resorts to tricks in Muş

Voting in Muş started with the tricks of the AKP-MHP government. In the Güzeltepe neighbourhood of the city centre, AKP supporters voted in mass. Despite the attempts of the crisis coordination team and MPs, no report was kept. Co-mayor candidates and polling officials who wanted to intervene were attacked and their phones were confiscated. It is learned that the person who attacked the officials in Güzeltepe was the wife and bodyguards of AKP candidate Feyat Asya.

In Malazgirt, transported voters voted en masse. At Muhammet Safitürk Secondary School in Mengüçlü neighbourhood, 580 votes were cast collectively. It is also learnt that votes were cast in mass at Alparslan Primary School.

09:56

AKP gets people to vote in exchange for money

It was revealed that in Urfa's Serêkanîye district, AKP members were getting people to vote in exchange for money and had set up a WhatsApp group for this purpose.

People who were made to vote in exchange for money sent their photos to this group along with their ballot papers showing that they voted for the AKP. Some 296 people were added to this WhatsApp group.

Stating that taking a photo while voting is a sufficient document for the vote to be deemed invalid, DEM Party lawyers will appeal to the District Election Board on the issue.

09:53

Tülay Hatimoğulları: Let's vote, let's protect the ballot boxes

People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) Party co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları cast her vote in Adana. Hatimoğulları made the following statement: "We reiterate our call once again. Please go everywhere. Let's use your votes. Let's protect our ballot boxes together.  Our friends, lawyers, observers, and ballot box officials are already fulfilling their duties at the ballot boxes all over Turkey. Thank you. The people will win in Turkey."

09:27

DEM Party made a statement about fake voters

DEM Party Mardin MO Beritan Güneş made a press statement regarding the bringing of many fake voters to Stewr (Savur). Calling for public awareness, Beritan Güneş said: "No matter what you do, the will of our people will win."

09:12

Soldiers vote en masse in Kars

Soldiers brought from outside to Kars (Qers) were brought by minibusses into the city. They voted en masse at Cumhuriyet Secondary School and Atatürk Secondary School. Soldiers who came to vote at Cumhuriyet Secondary School prevented the press from taking photos.

It was learned that 550 external voters were registered at Cumhuriyet Secondary School.

08:59

A ballot box officer voted twice

It was determined that an official named M.Y. in Bûlam (Pınarbaşı) town of Çêlikan district of Semsûr voted twice. The DEM Party forwarded the findings report to the ballot box committee. The Board accepted the objection and deemed the vote invalid.

08:39

Images of soldiers and police officers brought to vote in Idir.

 

08:32

Soldiers and police officers vote together with AKP members

Hundreds of soldiers and police were transported to vote en masse in Xirvate (Büyükçiftlik) and Bajêrge (Esendere) towns of Hakkari's (Colemêrg) Gever (Yüksekova) district. While soldiers were arriving in armored vehicles in Xirvate, in the town of Bajêrge, they were seen coming with AKP members.

08:31

People in Kulp reacted to the voting by soldiers and police officers

In Amed's Pasûr (Kulp) district, soldiers and police officers started voting at Atatürk Secondary School, Seyrek Secondary School, Hamzalı Canaydın Secondary School and Uzunova Secondary School. Soldiers and police officers in civilian clothes were transported to the schools where they would vote in minibuses. The people who came to the polls to vote protested the situation.

08:28

Soldiers and police were transported to vote in Mardin.

In Mardin's (Mêrdîn) Kerboran (Dargeçit) and Stewr (Savur) districts, soldiers and police officers were transported to vote en masse. Soldiers and police officers at Dargeçit Anatolian High School and Dargeçit Secondary School were identified.

People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) officials objected to the voting by soldiers and police officers at Aziz Sancar Secondary School and Nuri Cıngıllıoğlu High School in Stewr district. Voting was stopped at two schools in Stewr County.

08:17

Soldiers were brought from outsid to cast their vote in Idir 

Thousands of soldiers are being made to vote in Idir (Iğdır), where the AKP-MHP government has been using this practice of bringing people to vote from other parts for a long time.

In the images received by ANF, soldiers brought to Idir Şehir Emin Güner Hatip High School are waiting in a queue to vote.  Extensive security measures were taken at the school where soldiers voted, and no one was allowed near the school.

It was learned that many soldiers were brought to Iğdır by plane in the morning.

08:01

DBP co-chairs: Let's protect the ballot boxes

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chairs Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Keskin Bayındır voted in Rezan (Bağlar) district of Amed. The co-chairs called on us to protect the ballot boxes.

00:35

Illegal voter red-handed in Agirî

In Agirî, the AKP-MHP fascist alliance, which wanted to change the election balance through fraud against the DEM Party, was caught red-handed while transporting illegal voters.

On Saturday evening, a citizen filmed many buses carrying illegal voters, including police and soldiers, to Agirî. The license plates of the vehicles were removed. The witness reports that there is an influx of illegal voters from every route entering Agirî.