ARTVIN — CHP Mayoral candidate from Artvin Emin Özgün, winner of the former 3 elections, left his position to become an AK Party candidate.

According to Özgün, CHP's unity with the Gülen Movement was the cause of failure for the party in elections. An alliance with the Gülenist made by the CHP party caused a loss of its own social democratic base. "Exaggerated more vote promises didn't bring more support" Özgün said in regret.

"Gulenists came before the election and we made a deal with them," confessed Özgün. His this statement actually refutes CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's claims saying CHP did not agree on an alliance with Gülenists.

Commenting on election results CHP leader Kılıçdaroğlu, announced the most painful lost was losing the province of Artvin.

AK Party candidate Mehmet Kocabaş won with a 9 % difference in Artvin. AK Party 's victory in Artvin rocked the political balance in province.

1999: CHP 25% | ANAP 23 %

2004: CHP 46.4 % | AK Party 35.5 %

2009: CHP 43% , | AK Party 41 %

2014: AK Party 46.1 % | CHP 37.8 %