A Communist Party member was elected mayor in Turkey for the first time in the country’s history.

According to the unofficial results of Sunday’s local government elections, Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) member Fatih Mehmet Macoglu, 44, was elected Mayor of Ovacik in Tunceli [Dersim] Province, reported Milliyet daily of Turkey. 

It was also noted that until now he worked as a laboratory assistant at Tunceli State Hospital.  

According to the unofficial data, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won the elections with 44.9 percent. The party in power is followed by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) with 27.3 percent, the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) with 18.2 percent, and the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) with close to 5 percent of the votes cast.