Turkey’s principal opposition party has proclaimed victories in the crucial elections held in Istanbul and Ankara, alongside other significant urban centers. Ekrem Imamoglu, serving as Istanbul’s opposition mayor since 2019, expressed satisfaction with the election outcomes.
This comes a year after Recep Tayyip Erdogan, having previously aimed to reclaim the city of his upbringing and initial political career, secured another term as president.
The opposition’s triumph was not confined to Istanbul and Ankara but extended to other major cities such as Izmir, Bursa, Adana, and the tourist destination of Antalya. This represents a notable setback for Erdogan, who has been at Turkey’s helm for 21 years, marking the first occasion his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has faced electoral defeat across the nation.
Acknowledging the election’s results, President Erdogan, aged 70, viewed the outcome as a pivotal moment rather than a defeat, despite leading the electoral efforts in Istanbul and promising a new chapter for Turkey’s largest city. With a significant lead in Istanbul, Imamoglu’s victory over the AK Party contender was evident with 85% of the votes counted, indicating a margin of more than 10 percentage points.
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In Ankara, the secular opposition’s candidate, Mansur Yavas of the CHP, secured a commanding lead, declaring victory early into the count. The celebration of these victories resonated throughout the city, with supporters engaging in jubilant displays.
CHP’s chairman, Ozgur Ozel, lauded the electorate’s decision to usher in a new political era for Turkey, indicating a desire for change. In Istanbul, citizens gathered to celebrate, displaying national flags and images of Imamoglu alongside Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey’s founding father.
Imamoglu and Yavas, both seen as prospective presidential contenders for 2028, have garnered significant support, reflecting the opposition’s robust challenge against the ruling party. The local elections’ results, highlighting victories in major cities, symbolize a formidable opposition against the incumbent party, stirring hopes among supporters for a shift towards a more secular, rights-respecting Turkey.
Despite the ruling party’s anticipated recovery in cities affected by the 2023 earthquakes, the election underscored a national demand for change, with a particularly high turnout among Turkey’s electorate of 61 million, including over a million first-time voters.
