Turkish Prime Minister Thanks Supporters for AKP Victory in Snap Elections

Turkish Prime Minister and head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ahmet Davutoglu thanked voters of the party for their support "in the most difficult times, the most difficult days."

ANKARA (Sputnik) – Turkish Prime Minister and head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ahmet Davutoglu thanked his supporters and congratulated them with AKP’s majority in the snap parliamentary election on Sunday.

AKP is ahead of its closest competitors at 49.2 percent after all but 1 percent of votes have been counted in the nationwide elections, according to the central electoral committee. The result gives the party 316 seats in the 550-seat legislature.

"Thank you for your support in the most difficult times, the most difficult days. Today is the victory of our people," Davutoglu addressed a cheering crowd in the city of Konya.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) is currently gaining 25.3 percent of the votes, and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) obtained some 11.9 percent. The Pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) has also passed the 10-percent threshold to be represented in parliament.

Turkey has been run by a caretaker government since late August after the parties that won seats in the June election failed to form a coalition. AKP’s latest showing allows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party form a single-party cabinet.