Turkey Elections: Main Opposition Party Protects Key Triumphs

Headline: In Turkey Elections main opposition party has claimed big election victories in the main cities of Istanbul and Ankara.

The results represent a severe setback for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had planned to retake control of the cities less than a year after winning a third term as president.

He led a successful campaign in Istanbul, where he grew up and later became mayor.

However, Ekrem Imamoglu, who won the city in 2019, secured a second victory for the secular opposition CHP.

Mr Erdogan had promised a new era in Turkey’s megacity of over 16 million people, but the incumbent mayor of Istanbul won more than half of the vote, defeating the president’s AK Party nominee by more than 11 percent and nearly one million votes. 

Turkey Elections: CHP’s Leading in Istanbul Mayor Election Poses Challenges for Erdogan

The CHP’s lead in Turkey’s largest city would be a major setback for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had set his sights on regaining control of Istanbul and other major urban centers.

With about 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 powerhouse, according to state television TRT.

The mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, was re-elected by a wide margin, according to the findings.

According to TRT’s election results, the CHP led in 36 of Turkey’s 81 provinces. 

Relevance of Turkey Elections and Erdogan’s Popularity

The referendum was viewed as a gauge of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s popularity as he sought to reclaim control of important urban districts that he had lost to the opposition in elections five years prior.

Erdogan’s air of invincibility was shattered by the CHP’s victories over the AKP in Ankara and Istanbul in 2019.

A six-party opposition alliance formed by the CHP split after failing to unseat Erdogan in last year’s election, unable to capitalize on the economic crisis and the government’s first inadequate response to last year’s devastating earthquake, which killed over 53,000 people.

According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, turnout was approximately 76%, down from 87% the previous year.

Analysts believe a good showing for Erdogan’s party would have strengthened his commitment to implement a new constitution that would reflect his conservative ideals and allow him to rule beyond 2028 when his current term expires.

Erdogan, who has reigned over Turkey for nearly two decades — as prime minister since 2003 and president since 2014 — has advocated for a new constitution that prioritizes family values.

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