The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and its ally in the People’s Alliance, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) proved they are still a force to reckon with as the country went to by-elections in several neighborhoods and “beldes” (small districts). Despite its last-minute campaigning, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which relied on its belief that people were fed up with the current government, lost to the alliance, securing only one mayoral seat out of six.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan congratulated the party's victory as he addressed a crowd of supporters via phone link at Mustafapaşa, a newly created belde in central province of Nevşehir.
“People’s Alliance won four seats and MHP won another one. This is a great victory we achieved together. I send my greetings and love to all brothers and sisters who devoted themselves to this cause. We hope this success will continue,” he said. Mustafa Özer, AK Party candidate for Mustafapaşa mayor secured 876 of 1,695 votes according to unofficial results while CHP followed it with 378 votes and Bliss Party (SP) won 259 votes.
Out of six beldes in Nevşehir and provinces of Tokat and Gümüşhane, CHP only won the mayoral seat in Çevrecik of Tokat. Even there, it surpassed AK Party only with 74 votes.
