Erdogan: Appeals On Poll Results To Continue To The End

By Nilay Kar Onum



Turkey's president said on Thursday that his ruling party would continue to contest irregularities in last month's local elections "to the last", adding that the country's top election body would have the final say on the matter.



"When the Supreme Election Council makes the final decision, the issue [over the elections] will be finished for us," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told an international business conference held by the Confederation of Public Servants Trade Unions (Memur-Sen) in the capital Ankara.



"Through our history, every kind of political party has resorted to such methods [of appealing]," Erdogan said, adding that such appeals were a "requirement of democracy".



Millions of Turkish voters cast their votes nationwide on March 31, in local elections to choose mayors, city council members, and other officials for the next five years.



Contesting the results, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party asked for a recount, saying this may change the results.



Criticizing some Western media outlets for trying to portray Turkey's economy in a negative light, Erdogan said: "Whatever you do, whichever headlines you use, Turkey stands tall and will continue on its way, growing stronger."



Erdogan blasted the U.K.-based daily Financial Times for its coverage of Turkey, calling attention to London's stance on refugees.



"How many refugees does your country host? Go ahead and write a story on that as well," he said. -