Bulent Arinc, a former Turkish deputy prime minister and one of the leading politicians of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said in remarks referring to the 2019 local elections and Ekrem Imamoglu's victory in Istanbul elections: "Imamoglu was absolutely won by the votes of HDP supporters. We must be crazy not to see this. It should be announced that he won not with the support of the PKK but with the support from HDP supporters."

According to Suzchi newspaper, the member of Turkey Supreme Council of the Presidency continued to say that: "The Kurdish HDP and other party supporters in Istanbul preferred to vote for Imamoglu. What is the AKP alternative? It's very difficult to answer. We should take a look at the polls. The votes of the Peoples’ Republican Party of Turkey (CHP) has reached to nearly 25%."

Reporter’s code: 50101