Elections in Turkey
Opposition holds Istanbul and Ankara: Erdogan’s party loses local elections in Turkey
CHP supporters celebrate the victory in Istanbul.
© Imago Images
Almost a year after his victory in the presidential election, Erdogan wanted to recapture the metropolis of Istanbul and other cities for his AKP. But his candidates fail resoundingly.
In Istanbul, Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the CHP was ahead of his AKP challenger Murat Kurum, who got 40.5 percent, according to Anadolu, with 50.6 percent of the vote. “According to the data we received, it seems that our citizens’ trust in us, their belief in us, has paid off,” Imomoglu said. Polls before the election had predicted a close race.
Clear lead for opposition in Ankara
In Ankara, Mayor Mansur Yavas was even 25 percentage points ahead of his challenger. The CHP also gained votes in areas considered AKP strongholds. According to Anadolu, it won in 36 of the 81 provinces, marking its greatest success since Erdogan came to power more than 20 years ago. Voter turnout was around 76 percent, after 87 percent in the presidential and parliamentary elections in May last year.
“The voters have decided in favor of a new political order in Turkey,” said CHP leader Özgür Özel to cheering supporters. “Today voters decided to change the 22-year-old picture in Turkey and open the door to a new political climate in our country.”
Kurds fear disability
In the Kurdish-dominated areas in the southeast, the DEM was ahead in many places, but it was questionable whether its victorious candidates would be able to take office. In the past, the AKP has deposed elected pro-Kurdish mayors amid accusations that they had ties to Kurdish terrorists.
Erdogan admitted his AKP’s defeat. The party has “lost height” across Turkey, he said. “Unfortunately, nine months after our victory in the elections on May 28, we were unable to achieve the desired result in the local elections,” Erdogan said. The people have sent the AKP a message that they will analyze with courageous self-criticism. “We will correct our mistakes and eliminate our shortcomings,” he added
Erdogan admitted defeat
Sunday’s vote was seen as a barometer of Erdogan’s popularity as he sought to regain control of key urban areas that his AKP lost to the opposition in elections five years ago. The CHP’s victory in Ankara and Istanbul had shattered Erdogan’s aura of invincibility.
This year’s local elections took place against a background of high inflation and the AKP had to deal with new competition: the religious-conservative New Welfare Party YRP was courting conservative voters who are dissatisfied with Erdogan’s economic policies.
Economic crisis hits
Istanbul, with its 16 million inhabitants, was particularly important for Erdogan, where he was born and raised and was once mayor himself. The popular Imamoglu is considered a possible challenger to Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election.
The director of the Istanbul-based think tank Edam, Sinan Ülgen, spoke of a surprising election result. The voters wanted to punish the AKP for the economic malaise. Skyrocketing inflation has meant that many Turkish households can no longer afford basic goods. AKP supporters stayed at home or voted for other parties.