President Erdoğan answered the reporters' questions before his visit to Russia. After a reporter reminded the claims that there have been irregularities in the elections process in some places, Erdoğan said: "it is not some places, the whole election process in Istanbul was unlawful."
After the question of the AKP'S victory banners hanged before the final results "if they are not unlawful, there is no problem," he said. The banners read "Thank you Istanbul", referring to an AKP victory in the city before the official results are reported and AKP's appeals have been completed.
Erdoğan also noted that they would continue following the legal appealing processes. "With a 13-14 thousand difference [in votes], nobody should claim victory", he added.
AKP deputy chair responsible for the elections, Ali İhsan Yavuz, said the gap narrowed to 16,442 as of April 7, adding that his party would demand from the YSK a total recount in all 39 districts of Istanbul.
On Wednesday, Turkey‘s Supreme Election Council (YSK) had ordered a full recount in three of Istanbul‘s 39 districts and a recount of just invalid ballots in 15 districts after an appeal from Erdoğan’s AKP. On Thursday, the board decided to order a full recount in those 15 districts as well.
