by Zeynep Cermen
ISTANBUL, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The decision to call for a fresh mayoral election in Istanbul by the Supreme Election Council (YSK) has frustrated not a few in the largest city of Turkey, but they are ready to go to the polls again to exercise their rights.
"We made our choice at the election held on March 31, but some people do not find that legitimate," said Tekin Yildirim, the owner of a small glassware shop in the central Beyoglu district.
"But it doesn't matter," he told Xinhua. "We will go to the polls once again to show our reactions even stronger."
On Monday night, the YSK annulled the result of the late March election and rescheduled another one for June 23, following days of deliberations on allegations of irregularities in the voting by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The board argued that some of the ballot box committees were formed in contradiction to the law, which in turn "affected the outcome of the election."
Ekrem Imamoglu, the candidate from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was certified as Istanbul mayor on April 17, as he still led by a narrow margin against the AKP candidate following a recount of the ballots in some districts, delivering a heavy blow to the ruling party which had held the city for 25 years.
Some referred to the fact that the YSK did not interfere with the votes for district mayors and councilors, which were controlled by the same ballot box committees.
"How could it be possible?" Yildirim asked. "We made three decisions on a single piece of ballot paper. The verdict is just very confusing but nothing else."
Sahin Ilgenci, a retired man, described the YSK's decision as a "scandalous" move. "If they wouldn't pay respect to the people's will, why do we ever go to the polls?" he asked.
"What do you want me to say in the face of such a grave injustice?" Hidayet Budak, a woman aged 68, said angrily.
"I am standing up against all these violations of rights," she told Xinhua at the iconic Taksim Square in central Istanbul. "I will go to the polls again to make the democracy win."
Meanwhile, some are raising their voices on social media platforms under the hashtag of "Everything will be good," following the appeal by Imamoglu, whose mandate was canceled by the YSK.
"Do not ever lose your smile, everything will be good," Imamoglu told a rally on Monday night.
A significant number of Turkish celebrities, musicians and artists responded to the development via Twitter.
"I didn't sleep last night. But the light from the horizon in the morning was brighter than ever, #everythingwillbegood," tweeted Turkey's renowned pop singer Tarkan Tevetoglu.
The Pegasus Airlines and the Atlas Global Airlines have announced that passengers having tickets for June 23 are entitled to a full refund.
Despite the setback, the CHP on Tuesday ruled out a boycott of the new election, while Turkish President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the governor of Istanbul shall look after the affairs of the city until a new mayor is elected.
A rerun of the Istanbul election will lift the shadow cast by irregularities and other breaches of law on the will of the people and strengthen democracy, Erdogan said at a parliamentary meeting of the AKP on Tuesday.
