The ruling Justice and Development Party will challenge the Istanbul election results after the main opposition candidate became mayor, stated Turkish  President Tayyip Erdogan, adding that Turkey needed to end debate on the issue and focus on issues like the economy, Reuters reported.

After 17 days of objections and recounts, the new mayor from the opposition Republican People’s Party, Ekrem Imamoglu took office, despite the fact that the AKP intends to annul and repeat mayoral elections in Istanbul.

“We will continue with this struggle of ours to the end. When the YSK (High Election Board) says the last word, the matter will be closed for us,” Erdogan said a speech at a union confederation event.

According to him, Turkey should use the period until the next elections effectively and solve economic problems, security issues, pushing through structural reforms. 

“It is essential to move on from election disputes and focus on our real agenda, notably the economy and security,” he added.