Elections in Earthquake-Affected Regions: Results Reflect a Bittersweet Outcome

Hatay, one of the hardest-hit regions by the earthquake, experienced a somber election. Voter turnout exceeded 80%, with over 900,000 out of more than one million registered voters casting their ballots.

In the previous election, President Erdogan had obtained the highest vote share in Hatay. However, this time, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the presidential candidate of the People's Alliance, emerged as the winner by a slight margin.

In the previous election, the People's Alliance secured 6 parliamentary seats, the Nation Alliance gained 4 seats, and the HDP (People's Democratic Party) won 1 seat. This time, both the People's Alliance and the Nation Alliance secured 5 seats each, while the Labour and Freedom Alliance obtained 1 seat.

Kahramanmaraş, another heavily affected region, also witnessed high voter turnout. Over 600,000 out of 753,000 eligible voters cast their votes. In the presidential election, President Erdogan of the People's Alliance received 71% of the votes. Kahramanmaraş became the city where President Erdogan obtained the highest number of votes in the earthquake-stricken areas, while Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu received 22% of the votes.

As a result of the election, the People's Alliance secured 7 seats in the city, while the Nation Alliance obtained 1 seat.

In Diyarbakır, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, with the support of the Labour and Freedom Alliance, received nearly 72% of the votes in the presidential election. The Labour and Freedom Alliance, which included the Green Left Party, secured 8 seats, while the People's Alliance gained 3 seats and the Nation Alliance won 1 seat.

One of the notable aspects of the election results in Diyarbakır was the Republican People's Party's (CHP) success in electing a member of parliament from the city for the first time in 21 years. Sezgin Tanrıkulu, a member of parliament elected from Istanbul in 2018, became a representative from his hometown this time.

In Gaziantep, President Erdogan once again emerged as the top candidate, as in the 2018 elections. The People's Alliance secured 9 seats, the Nation Alliance obtained 4 seats, and the Labour and Freedom Alliance won 1 seat.

In Adıyaman, one of the regions most affected by the earthquake, 327,000 voters cast their ballots. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured the first position with 66% of the votes.

In Şanlıurfa, President Erdogan and the People's Alliance emerged as the winners. The People's Alliance secured 9 seats, the Labour and Freedom Alliance won 4 seats, and the Nation Alliance obtained 1 seat.

Adana, another earthquake-stricken city, witnessed a turnout of over 85%. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu obtained over 50% of the votes. The People's Alliance and the Nation Alliance each secured 7 parliamentary seats, while the Labour and Freedom Alliance obtained 1 seat.

Source: NTV