In Turkey, the local elections on Sunday were a disaster for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his party, the AKP. The opposition CHP party successfully defended its power in Istanbul and Ankara and even defeated the AKP in other major cities in Anatolia. This marked a significant turning point for Turkey, with experts calling it a “tectonic shift” that was previously unimaginable.
The election has been seen as a turning point for Turkey, with experts calling it a “tectonic shift” that was previously unimaginable. The AKP and Erdoğan faced a “devastating defeat” on election day. Istanbul CHP Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu won the mayoral race with 50 percent of the vote against the AKP candidate Murat Kurum, setting him as a strong contender for the presidency in future elections.
In Ankara, the CHP’s victory was even more pronounced, with incumbent Mansur Yavas securing nearly 59 percent of the vote against the AKP candidate. The CHP also gained ground in other cities in western Anatolia, replacing the AKP as the governing party in Bursa and securing victories in six other provinces. Overall, the CHP achieved 37.6 percent nationwide, putting it ahead of the AKP.
The opposition’s success was attributed to lessons learned from previous defeats, with Imamoğlu leading a reform movement within the opposition. This victory is seen as potentially marking the end of Erdoğan’s era in Turkey, with challenges ahead due to both political and economic factors. Despite being resilient fighter, Erdoğan is seen as being in a difficult position moving forward.
