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Turkey election: Independent candidate gets single vote after voting with wife

His most successful rally attracted six people

Samuel Osborne
Tuesday 03 November 2015 17:32 GMT
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Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrate the AKP's victory in Istanbul
Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrate the AKP's victory in Istanbul (AFP/Getty)

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An Independent candidate who cast his ballot with his wife in Turkey's election ended up receiving only one vote from that polling station - suggesting even his wife didn't vote for him.

Local media said Ali Osman Demirtas's campaign rallies had been poorly attended. His most successful rally attracted six people.

He won a total of 504 votes in the Turkish city of Bursa.

Despite his loss at the polls, Mr Demirtas told the Dogan news agency he was satisfied.

"I ran to teach the political parties a lesson; I did my job. Winning or losing is not important.

"Bursa is the one who lost, I don't need this position. I thank everyone who voted, and I hope the citizens who attended my rallies don't forget the things I told them."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a decisive victory in the Turkish parliamentary election - his Justice and Development (AKP) party won 49.4 per cent of the vote.

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