US
Polls had predicted a tight contest in Istanbul and possible CHP losses across the country
Splits within the ruling party are now out in the open
Ali Babacan is a founding member of the Justice and Development Party
With economic recession, unemployment, inflation hurting voters and eating into ruling party support base
Urges people to unite after he wins highly contested race against President Erdogan's ruling party
Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) won most votes nationwide in the March 31 election
AKP demanded recount in Ankara and Istanbul citing irregularities
The opposition CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu was declared victory
The president will likely be reinstalled as party chairman on May 21 to replace Yildirim
Says people had been unable to vote in privacy; some ballots were counted in secret