Early returns in Turkey’s crucial municipal elections last night indicated the government would hold much of its national support in a ballot viewed inside and outside the country as a referendum on the embattled AK Party.
Politicians traded accusations of vote manipulation on local television as several election-related deaths were reported throughout the day. Riot vehicles and police were deployed to a central Istanbul square in anticipation of clashes late last night.
In recent months, the government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced down an unprecedented series of challenges to its 12-year rule.
An investigating has been launched into claims Turkey's ministry for foreign affairs was bugged following the leaking last week of a conversation purportedly of Turkey's foreign minister and others, discussing a plan to invade Syria. In retaliation, Turkish authorities have banned social media sites Twitter and YouTube, where the recordings were posted and discussed by millions of Turks.
“Our people will tell the truth ... what the people say is what it is,” Mr Erdogan said from a polling station in Istanbul yesterday.
In Istanbul, incumbent AK Party mayor Kadir Topbas was locked in a tight battle with Mustafa Sarigul of the Republican People's Party (CHP), while in Turkey's capital Ankara, the AK Party candidate led by six per cent with 40 per cent of the vote counted.
Local elections last held in 2009 saw the ruling AK Party secure as many votes as its next two challenging parties, the CHP and MHP, with 39 per cent of the national vote.
Bellwether
Campaigning continued up until the final moments in Istanbul, a crucial swing city and bellwether for national sentiment.
At a CHP rally in the largely secular district of Kadikoy on Saturday, banners reading “Sarigul the cure”, referring to challenger Mustafa Sarigul, littered the streets.
Aufer, a housewife and longtime CHP voter, said it was the first time she had attended an election rally, a result of her growing concern for Turkey’s future under the AK Party. “We don’t like the fact that we are becoming more Islamic. As a woman, I think their [the government’s] policy is frightening.”
Heavy snow in eastern Turkey prevented voters from getting to polling stations early. Minor disputes were reported where FEMEN activists protested against the banning of social media websites. In eastern Turkey, six people died as a result of confrontations between local neighbourhood candidates, according to state media.
Cyber attacks
Several Turkish media organisations critical of the AK Party reported suffering cyber attacks on their websites as votes were counted last evening.
Under the AK Party, Turkey’s economy has grown strongly while last year the government negotiated a ceasefire to a punishing 30-year conflict with Kurdish rebels based in the country’s southeast.
Mr Erdogan has indicated he may contest presidential elections this summer with him unable to run for prime minister a third time.