AKP recalled with record high votes

In March 29’s local elections, almost 70 percent of Konya residents voted for the AKP's candidate and incumbent, Tahir Akyürek. In doing so, Konya elected Akyürek with one of highest majorities in the country. The Konya electorate were clearly impressed with the job Akyürek had so far done, as they relected him with a 5.95 percent increase on the last local elections.

’Election result shows confidence’

"This result is a great manifestation of confidence. We will try to serve from the bottom of our hearts to be worthy of such confidence," Akyürek said after the elections. "This percentage of votes, a record in Konya’s history, will never make us become complacent. On the contrary it will make us work harder and serve with greater responsibility," he said.

The AKP also increased its votes in the city assembly, but the increase was not to the same degree as in the mayoral race. In 2004, the AKP received 53.8 percent of city assembly cotes, this year they managed 55.10 percent.

Coming in second in the conservative Konya electorate mayoral race was the Saadet (Felicity) party. Saadet comes from a similar ideological tradition as the founders of the ruling party. However, in city assembly elections it was the opposition Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, that followed the AKP. Saadet trailed the MHP with 9.6 percent of the vote.

In the 31 districts connected to Konya, the AKP won in 21 ballots.

Minibus driver elected as mayor

Meanwhile, in Konya’s Beyşehir district a surprising result came in the elections. A local minibus driver, İzzet Taşcı, was voted in as mayor of Beyşehir. The newly allocated mayor spent the majority of his adult life operating construction machinery and driving municipal trucks. Out of 622 voters, 292 voted for Taşcı in as their mayor. Taşcı has been a driver in the district for five years and has contributed significantly to the community. Taşcı said he would not be using a driver for his private office car and insisted on driving himself.