ISTANBUL. –  Serving Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul, who was the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP)  Metropolitan Istanbul mayoral candidate in Sunday’s local government elections in Turkey, issued a statement and accepted his defeat in the elections.

In his statement, Sarigul, who was considered the main rival of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) candidate, noted that the only thing that remains to be done is to work with a greater effort, reported Milliyet daily of Turkey.

According to unofficial results, incumbent Metropolitan Istanbul Mayor and AKP member Kadir Topbas is reelected to the office. 

Mustafa Sarigul is the first Turkish mayor who has received the special medal of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, and for the renovation of Armenian churches and schools in Istanbul and the assistance to the national minority events.