Turkey's Opposition Scores Major Gains In Local Elections Against Erdogan

In Turkey's local elections on Sunday, the main opposition party retained control over key cities and made significant gains elsewhere, according to preliminary results.

With nearly 60% of the ballot boxes counted, incumbent Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the Republican People's Party (CHP) was leading in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city and economic hub.

Photo Credit: PTI

Turkey's Opposition Scores Major Gains

Mansur Yavas, the mayor of the capital Ankara, retained his seat with a large margin.The CHP was leading in 36 of Turkey's 81 provinces. The vote was seen as a barometer of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's popularity as he sought to win back control of key urban areas he lost to the opposition in elections five years ago. The CHP's victory in Ankara and Istanbul in 2019 had shattered Erdogan's aura of invincibility."The voters decided to establish a new political order in Turkey," CHP leader Ozgur Ozel told a crowd of jubilant supporters. "Today, the voters decided to change the 22-year-old picture in Turkey and open the door to a new political climate in our country." A large crowd gathered outside Ankara City Hall to celebrate Yavas' victory.Sinan Ulgen, director of the Istanbul-based Edam think tank, said "the surprising outcome was due to voters wanting to punish the ruling party over the depth of an economic malaise." Skyrocketing inflation has left many Turkish households struggling to afford basic goods. AKP supporters opted to stay away from the ballot stations or voted for other parties, Ulgen said.Turnout was around 76%, compared to 87% last year. Some 594,000 security personnel were on duty across the country to ensure the vote goes smoothly. Nevertheless, one person was killed and 11 others hurt in the city of Diyarbakir where a dispute over the election of a neighborhood administrator turned violent.Imamoglu won some 50% of the votes in Istanbul while AKP's candidate Murat Kurum received 41%, according to TRT. Polls had pointed to a close race between the two. Imamoglu ran without the support of some of the parties that helped him to victory in 2019.Ulgen said the result has thrust Imamoglu into the role of possible leader of the opposition to challenge Erdogan for the presidency in 2028. "This outcome has certainly been a watershed for Imamoglu," he said. "He will emerge as the natural candidate of the opposition for the next round of presidential elections."A new religious-conservative party, the New Welfare Party (YRP), appeared to have attracted votes from AKP supporters who have been disillusioned with the government's handling of the economy. In Turkey's mainly Kurdish-populated southeast, the DEM Party was on course to win many of the municipalities but it is unclear whether it would be allowed to retain them.Analysts said a strong showing for Erdogan's party would have hardened his resolve to usher in a new constitution — one that would reflect his conservative values and allow him to rule beyond 2028 when his current term ends. Erdogan has been advocating for a new constitution that would put family values at the forefront.