Political party leaders cast their votes: Common message stands out

Turkey went to the polls to elect local administrators who will serve for 5 years. 61 million 441 thousand 882 registered voters will cast their ballots in approximately 208 thousand ballot boxes.

The elections will determine the mayors of 81 provinces, 973 districts and 390 towns. 

Political party leaders also went to the polls in the morning. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel was the first leader to vote.

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S CALL TO 'STAY AWAY FROM GUNS'

In his hometown Manisa, Özel, together with his wife Didem and daughter İpek Özel, cast his vote at Yunusemre district's April 23rd National Sovereignty Primary School Ballot Box No. 1174. 

Entering the school under the applause of the citizens, Özel and his family waited for their turn at the ballot box and cast their votes respectively.

"WE SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM EXCESSES"

CHP Leader Özel, who met with the press in the school garden after the voting, made the following statements:

"I would like to remind everyone to stay away from excesses and that there are no losers in this election. Upsetting and offending others during demonstrations of joy will harm the unity and solidarity of Turkiye. Today, we may be 20 million people at the ballot box, we may be 30 million people. But tomorrow we are 84 million people together in Turkey. Tomorrow we will look face to face. This is what politicians will do. Citizens will do the same. The election will be behind us. We will look ahead together."

ERDOĞAN CAST HIS VOTE IN ÜSKÜDAR

President of Turkey and AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan cast their votes at Saffet Çebi Secondary School in Üsküdar.

Making statements after casting his vote, Erdoğan said, "It has been an intense campaign period. May a good result come out for our country and nation. On behalf of myself and my party colleagues, I would like to thank our nation for their loyalty." 

AKŞENER CASTS HER VOTE IN ANKARA: 'WE WENT THROUGH A DIFFICULT PROCESS'

IYI Party leader Meral Akşener came with her husband to the Türkiye Emlak Bankası Secondary School in Ankara. Greeted by her party members in the school garden, Akşener entered the classroom where the ballot box numbered "4625" was located and greeted the polling staff.

After casting her vote, Meral Akşener told press members that it was very tiring to step outside the system imposed by this freak system as a free and independent citizen, without being condemned to alliance politics.

Akşener said, "In my opinion, almost every member of my party has suffered injustice, we have faced a lot of slander, but you will see that this resistance in terms of Turkey, you are all very young, we will understand better after a year what it corresponds to in terms of young people together." 

BAHÇELI CAST HIS VOTE: BRUISES ON HIS FACE ATTRACTED ATTENTION

In Ankara, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli cast his vote at Anıttepe Secondary School.

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli made a statement after casting his vote as "We have achieved the first Local Elections of Turkey in the new century. I wish success to all political parties and their worthy candidates in the elections and I wish all the best for our state. I thank all nation in advance."

Bahçeli stated that he would follow the election results from MHP building. On the other hand, the bruises on Bahçeli's face attracted attention.

DEM PARTY CO-CHAIR ORUÇ CAST HER VOTE IN ADANA

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları Oruç cast her vote in Adana.

DEM Party Co-Chairperson and Adana MP Tülay Hatimoğulları Oruç went to Ayşe Atıl Primary School in Çukurova district and voted at the ballot box numbered 1057.

After voting, Oruç told reporters that she wished the election results to be auspicious.

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan cast his vote at Ahmet Vefik Paşa Primary School in Çankaya district of Ankara.

MUHARREM INCE: 'WE RECOGNIZE THE ELECTION RESULTS BUT...'

Hometown Party Chairman Muharrem İnce cast his vote with his wife Ülkü İnce at the ballot box number 4683 at the Private Şener Çakmak Anatolian High School in Çankaya district.

Ince made a statement to journalists after casting his vote.

Stating that election days are wedding days and wishing the best for the country, İnce said, "This wedding is legitimate; but it is not fair. We already know the election results; it is not fair.”

DEVA LEADER BABACAN CASTS HIS VOTE

DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan and his wife Zeynep Babacan cast their votes at the ballot box number 4624 at Bilkent Emlak Bankası Secondary School.

Making a statement to the press members at the exit, Babacan said, "In these elections, especially when I was traveling around the provinces, I saw that the number of hopeless citizens was high. In other words, it is as if nothing changes at the ballot box. There is a feeling that we cannot change anything by voting. But it is not like that."

TIP CHAIRMAN AND GEBZE CANDIDATE ERKAN BAŞ CAST HIS VOTE IN KADIKÖY

Workers' Party of Turkiye (TİP) Chairman and Kocaeli Gebze Mayor candidate Erkan Baş cast his vote in Kadıköy, İstanbul. He came to Kadıköy Technical Anatolian High School and he voted with his wife Gülçin Baş at the ballot box numbered 1105.

Posing for the press while throwing the envelope, Baş thanked the polling officials and left the school with his wife and son.

DAVUTOĞLU CASTS HIS VOTE: 'THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US...'

Future Party (GP) President Ahmet Davutoğlu cast his vote at the ballot box numbered 2274 at Nejat Sabuncu Primary School in Eyüpsultan.

Davutoğlu came to cast his vote together with his wife Sare Davutoğlu.

"The most fundamental responsibility of each of us is to learn the necessary lessons from these elections," the GP leader said.

HÜDA PAR CHAIRMAN YAPICIOĞLU CAST HIS VOTE

Free Cause Party (HUDA PAR) Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu came to Kuzeykent Şehit İsmail Koç Primary School in Altındağ Baraj Neighborhood with his accompanying parties. Yapıcıoğlu, who greeted the citizens here, cast his vote in the ballot box numbered "2003".

Yapıcıoğlu said, "Let there be an election in peace and tranquility. In the end, the nation will win, the country will win." 

ÜMİT ÖZDAĞ CAST HIS VOTE: 'WE ENTERED WITH CONFIDENCE'

Victory Party (ZP) Chairman Ümit Özdağ came to TSK Mehmetçik Foundation Hafize İhsan Payaza Secondary School to cast his vote.

While chatting with citizens and waiting in line to vote, Özdağ cast his vote in the ballot box numbered 4011.

Özdağ said, "May it be auspicious for Turkey, we, as the ZP think that we will make a big leap in these elections. We have seen this throughout the election campaign."

SAADET LEADER CAST HIS VOTE IN ANKARA

Felicity Party (SP) Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu came to Çankaya High School with his party members. Karamollaoğlu, who greeted the citizens here, cast his vote in the ballot box numbered "1052".

Making a statement afterwards, Karamollaoğlu wished the elections to be auspicious and said, "On the occasion of local elections, it will be determined who will govern our towns, districts and provinces. We all have to respect this election."