[WSJ] Ruling AKP says balloting was marred by fraud and irregularities, but outraged mayor's party calls situation a matter of wanting to preserve control.Turkey's national election board canceled results of the Istanbul mayoral race that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party lost five weeks ago and ordered a rerun, sparking outrage in opposition ranks and fueling investor concerns over heightened economic volatility.
Ruling on complaints filed by Mr. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, or AKP, the election board said a new vote was necessary because fraud and irregularities had material influence on the March 31 results in Istanbul. The ruling is final and can't be challenged in court.
Mr. Erdogan had thrown his weight behind the AKP's fraud claims, calling for a rerun.
| The Independent adds: |
Mr Imamoglu’s victory marked the first time in 25 years that Istanbul, a city of 16 million, fell out of the hands of Mr Erdogan’s political party. The AKP also lost control of the capital, Ankara, for the first time in 25 years but with a much larger margin.