ANKARA, August 10 (RIA Novosti) – All facts of electoral rigging during Turkey’s presidential vote will be thoroughly investigated, presidential candidate Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said at a polling station in Istanbul.
Ihsanoglu stressed that his team will follow closely the transparency of the election.
“The electoral campaign was held on unequal terms but I rely on the sanity of our people. What is of utmost importance now is that the election is fair. I have heard some of my associates saying that some violations have already been registered, for example, voters photographed ballot papers. We will look into every case,” he told journalists.
Another candidate Selahattin Demirtas after carrying out his civic duty in Diyarbakır expressed certainty that the most important thing for Turkey right now is not to have a concrete winner but to continue its democratic path to freedom.
“No matter what the people’s choice is, I am sure that struggle for freedom and democracy would continue,” Demirtas said.
Presidential candidate and incumbent Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan cast his vote in Istanbul stressing the importance of Turkey’s first direct presidential vote in history and expressed hope that people will make a right decision.
“For the first time, our people are electing a president. It is a very important step. I am sure that Turkey’s citizens have made a right decision and we will move forward with this decision. I hope that turnout will be high today,” Erdogan told journalists.
The current elections are the first direct presidential vote in Turkey. Since 1923, the country’s leader was appointed by the parliament.
More than 165,000 polling stations opened at 5:00 GMT and will accept votes until 14:00 GMT. Nearly 53 million people are expected to cast their votes. If no candidate wins a simple majority, the second round will be held on August 24.
