ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday "following the counting of the ballots after the local elections, we will receive the message".
Speaking at a press conference held at the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party on early Monday, Erdogan said that his party would take lessons from the results of the local elections.
"We think it is important to take lessons both from achievements and from failures," Erdogan stressed. "March 29 local elections, a turning point for democratic history, are about to be completed. I hope that the election results would benefit the Turkish nation," Erdogan noted.
"We are actually happy today. The will of our people showed the maturity of our democracy. Yet there are those who would like to cast shadow over the success of the local elections," Erdogan said. "It is very interesting...for the past hour, I have been looking at some tv programs regarding the local elections. There are candidates or political party representatives complaining of electricity cuts or computer related problems. The Higher Board of Election has done what it had to do. The counting has resumed in a healthy manner. I do not think it is ethical to cast shadow on the local elections. Our democracy has added strength to itself," Erdogan said.
"We went to the ballot boxes and displayed the free will of our people. The democratic local elections will carry Turkey further," Erdogan stressed. Reminding the helicopter accident of last Wednesday in which the chairperson of the Grand Unity Party (BBP) Muhsin Yazicioglu was killed, Erdogan said that Turkey has lost a dear son who was very precious.