Votes being recounted in Gaziosmanpaşa: The gap is widening in favor of CHP

Following the objection filed by the AK Party, the recount of votes at the Gaziosmanpaşa District Election Board began at 11:00 AM. Out of 1,030 ballot boxes, 362 have been recounted. As of 11:00 PM, when the count concluded for the day, CHP mayoral candidate Hakan Bahçetepe remains ahead of his AKP rival. The count will continue tomorrow.

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Votes being recounted in Gaziosmanpaşa: The gap is widening in favor of CHP

12punto.com.tr / Ercan KÜÇÜK

The deadline for filing objections against ballot box committee reports and decisions following the March 31 Local Elections ended yesterday at 3:00 PM.

The AK Party filed objections yesterday in Beykoz and Gaziosmanpaşa, while the Republican People's Party (CHP) filed objections in Arnavutköy, Bahçelievler, Fatih, Pendik, Ümraniye, and Zeytinburnu.

The Provincial Election Board in Gaziosmanpaşa had decided to recount the votes.

Following the AK Party's objection, the recount of votes at the Gaziosmanpaşa District Election Board began at 11:00 AM.

THERE ARE 1030 BALLOT BOXES

Out of the 1,030 ballot boxes in Gaziosmanpaşa, 362 have been recounted so far. CHP mayoral candidate Hakan Bahçetepe is leading ahead of AKP mayoral candidate Hasan Tahsin Usta.

The count ended as of 11:00 PM. The counting process, in which CHP candidate Bahçetepe is in the lead, will continue tomorrow.

SUPPORT VISIT

Deputy Chairman Mehmet Tüm, Party Assembly member Baki Aydöner, Party Assembly member Ecevit Keleş, Kastamonu's CHP Mayor Hasan Baltacı, Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, and Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın also came to show their support.

CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik arrived at the location in Gaziosmanpaşa where the count is taking place and is closely examining the incoming figures...

IFTAR BREAK FOR THE COUNT

An iftar break was taken during the vote recount. The Gaziosmanpaşa Municipality did not provide iftar meals for the police officers on duty during the count. CHP district officials provided iftar meals from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) and Beşiktaş municipalities.

FORMER CHP MP ŞEKER SPOKE TO 12punto.com.tr

While the recount of votes in Gaziosmanpaşa continues following the AKP's objection, former CHP MP Ali Şeker evaluated the recount process for 12punto.com.tr.

Stating that what is happening is a disgrace for the AKP, Şeker said:

"The AKP has experienced an institutional collapse in Istanbul and in Turkey... In the end, they are struggling to see if they can file objections in some places and take them back to delay the collapse, but these are futile efforts. Ultimately, there was a price to pay for the process that took place, and people placed this bill in front of the AKP.

About 250 ballot boxes have been counted and nothing has changed; there will not be a change of more than 70 or 80 votes, and Hakan Bahçetepe will continue as the Mayor of Gaziosmanpaşa, but the AKP will continue to live with this shame and will eventually take its place in history like the Motherland Party (ANAP) at the end of this collapse."

The recount continues in Gaziosmanpaşa. https://t.co/Xh2xsCPZF6 reports from the hall. Former CHP MP Ali Şeker evaluated the process https://t.co/NzgcOiydUx pic.twitter.com/6nRp7yJUFd
— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) April 3, 2024

EVALUATION FROM CHP DEPUTY CHAIRMAN TÜM

CHP Deputy Chairman Mehmet Tüm evaluated the vote recount process in Gaziosmanpaşa for 12punto.com.tr. Stating that "it is impossible for the vote gap to close," Tüm made the following remarks:

"In Istanbul, Gaziosmanpaşa, the CHP finished the election ahead by 930 votes, but the count is continuing following the objections. So far, a quarter of the votes have been counted. The gap is 13 votes; I estimate that it will not exceed 50 votes by the end of the election, and the Gaziosmanpaşa Mayoralty will remain with the CHP. The objections do not mean anything; people are waiting here, the gap is significant, and it is impossible for it to close, but as a democratic right, one can file an objection.

We sincerely believe that the count will result in our favor, and it will be clarified tomorrow evening. We will all experience the pride of winning the mayoralty in Gaziosmanpaşa after many years together."

CHP Deputy Chairman Mehmet Tüm @mehmettumnet evaluated the vote recount process in Gaziosmanpaşa for https://t.co/Xh2xsCPZF6. "It is impossible for the vote gap to close" pic.twitter.com/4FRlkeJFSV
— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) April 3, 2024

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

According to the March 31 local election results, CHP mayoral candidate Hakan Bahçetepe received 40.45 percent of the votes, while AK Party mayoral candidate Hasan Tahsin Usta came in second with 40.12 percent.

News Source: 12punto