Turkey's Opposition Claims Significant Victories in Municipal Elections
For the first time in 21 years, Turkey's main opposition party has achieved a major victory in the country's most crucial cities, Istanbul and Ankara.
This outcome deals a significant blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had hoped to regain control over the cities. In Istanbul, where Erdogan grew up and once served as mayor, he personally led the campaign efforts. However, opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu won the election for the second time since 2019, securing more than 50% of the votes.
In the capital city of Ankara, opposition mayor Mansur Yavas won a landslide victory with 59% of the vote, declaring victory even before less than half of the votes were counted. Supporters celebrated across the city's main roads with honking, and flag-waving.
The opposition party, CHP, also stands victorious in several of Turkey's other large cities, including Izmir, Bursa, Adana, and the resort city of Antalya.
The BBC notes that this is the first time Erdogan's party has suffered a nationwide defeat at the polls since he came to power 21 years ago. Erdogan acknowledged the election did not go as he had hoped but told supporters in Ankara that "this is not the end but rather a turning point for us."
In the capital city of Ankara, opposition mayor Mansur Yavas won a landslide victory with 59% of the vote, declaring victory even before less than half of the votes were counted. Supporters celebrated across the city's main roads with honking, and flag-waving.
The opposition party, CHP, also stands victorious in several of Turkey's other large cities, including Izmir, Bursa, Adana, and the resort city of Antalya.
The BBC notes that this is the first time Erdogan's party has suffered a nationwide defeat at the polls since he came to power 21 years ago. Erdogan acknowledged the election did not go as he had hoped but told supporters in Ankara that "this is not the end but rather a turning point for us."
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