Opposition Party on the Verge of Victory in Istanbul and Ankara
ISTANBUL — In a high-stakes local election, Turkey’s main opposition party is inching closer to victory in the main cities of Istanbul and Ankara.
The opposition mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, who previously won the city in 2019, expressed his joy at the current results.
A year after Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured a third term as president, his main goal was to regain the city where he grew up and served as mayor.
However, the night belonged to the opposition as they were on the brink of victory.
With 80% of the vote counted in Istanbul, Imamoglu was leading by almost 10 points over his rival from Erdogan’s AK Party.
In the capital Ankara, Imamoglu’s colleague in the secular opposition, Mansur Yavas, was so far ahead of his rival that he declared victory with less than half the votes in.
President Erdogan, at 70 years old, had spearheaded his party’s election campaign in Istanbul, promising a new era in Turkey’s largest city.
The outcome was seen as a significant setback for the man who has governed Turkey for the past 21 years.
Notably, the opposition CHP was also leading in many of Turkey’s other major cities, including Izmir, Bursa, and Antalya.
In Istanbul, a city of nearly 16 million people, crowds gathered outside the main town hall, waving Turkish flags and banners displaying Imamoglu’s image alongside Turkey’s founding father Kemal Ataturk.
“I can confidently say that the trust and faith of our citizens have been rewarded,” Imamoglu stated.
Both Imamoglu and Mansur Yavas are considered potential candidates for the presidency in 2028.
“Everything is going to be great,” chanted Imamoglu supporters as they celebrated in Sarachane, one of Istanbul’s oldest districts.
Imamoglu first used the slogan when he defeated Erdogan’s party five years ago. Banners in Sarachane now showcased his current slogan, “Full speed ahead”.
“While these are only local elections, the opposition’s triumph in major cities sends a strong message to the ruling party,” said Yesim Albayrak, a 25-year-old supporter of Imamoglu.
“I am hopeful that the country will become more secular, respecting human rights, women’s rights, and children’s rights,” expressed Mehmet Bankaci, 27.
Five years ago, Imamoglu ended years of AK Party rule in Istanbul with the support of a unified six-party opposition. However, following last year’s presidential election defeat, that unity crumbled, and the AK Party aimed to overturn his 2019 victory.
Prior to Sunday’s election in Istanbul, the race was too close to call, with the incumbent mayor facing a strong challenge from AK Party candidate Murat Kurum.
Despite the ruling party’s efforts, they have been unable to overcome an economic crisis marked by inflation rates of 67% and interest rates at 50%.
The AK Party has found more success in areas of the south-east affected by the February 2023 double earthquake, leading in cities like Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep.
Approximately 61 million Turkish voters were eligible to participate in Sunday’s election, with turnout estimated at over 76% across the country’s 81 provinces. — BBC
