Turkey's premier gets boost from local elections
ISTANBUL -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday hailed what appeared to be a clear victory for his party in local elections, providing a boost that could help him emerge from a spate of recent troubles.
Erdogan was not on the ballot in the countrywide polls, but with about half of the votes counted, Turkish newswires suggested that his party was significantly outstripping its results in the last local elections in 2009 and roundly beating the main opposition party. Erdogan's party had set its 2009 results of about 39 percent as a benchmark.
"I thank my Lord for granting such a victory, such a meaningful result," Erdogan said at a victory rally in Ankara, speaking to a crowd of supporters who had been chanting "Turkey is proud of you!"
Incumbent candidates from Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, better known by its Turkish acronym AKP, were also leading in high-profile races in Istanbul and Ankara, according to the early results. Voter turnout appeared to be heavy, with long lines at polling stations.
The results would appear to strengthen the prime minister following a tumultuous corruption scandal. In recent days, Erdogan has also provoked outrage at home and abroad by blocking access to Twitter and YouTube.
The result could also embolden Erdogan to run for president in an election scheduled for August. Before yesterday's showing, he had appeared to be leaning against that route, which has risks.
-- AP
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
