Istanbul In Sunday’s municipal elections, Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu defeated an opponent from President Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party, according to an early tally that might provide a boost to the Turkish opposition’s attempts to reclaim political power.
Less than three hours after polls closed for the nationwide municipal election, incumbent opposition mayor Mansur Yavas defeated his AK Party (AKP) opponent in Ankara, the country’s second-largest city, dealing another blow to Erdogan.
Analysts view the countrywide municipal elections as a barometer of Erdogan’s popularity as well as the resilience of the opposition.
Erdogan, who has been in office for more than 20 years, vigorously pushed his party’s bid to unseat opponent Imamoglu, the current mayor of Istanbul and possible future presidential contender.
Three people are said to have died in the violence that broke out in many eastern Turkish cities during the election of neighborhood authorities, who were on the ballot alongside mayors and other municipal officials.
Official results based on 41.43% of ballot boxes opened showed that Imamoglu had 50% of the vote, while Murat Kurum, the competitor for the AK Party (AKP) and a former minister in Erdogan’s national administration, received 41.26%.
“The favor and faith our countrymen have in us have been proven,” Imamoglu declared, “based on the evidence we have gathered.”
“We are really pleased with the current situation,” he continued.
The Republican People’s Party (CHP), the largest opposition party, is leading in major cities like Izmir, Bursa, Antalya, and Adana, according to partial official tallies released by the state-run Anadolu Agency.
After winning the 2019 election, CHP’s Imamoglu has delivered Erdogan and his AKP the greatest electoral setback of his 20 years in office. In 2023, the president retaliated by working with his nationalist friends to win reelection and a majority in parliament.
Partial results show that the CHP is leading the country by about 39% of the vote, marking the first such lead in thirty-five years.
A dismal performance by the AKP on Sunday, according to analysts, may weaken Erdogan’s hold on power in Turkey and hint at a possible shift in the country’s fragmented political landscape. Winning for Imamoglu would also raise hopes that he may become a future national leader.
“Imamoglu is good and performs what he should as mayor, but he does not compare with Erdogan,” retired AKP supporter Omer remarked earlier on Sunday as the president emerged from an Istanbul polling place to cheers from the throng.
In another area of Istanbul, home to almost 16 million people, engineer Murat Ercan expressed his disapproval of Erdogan’s strong involvement in his party’s election campaign, saying the president had to be neutral.
After casting his vote, Ercan, 60, remarked, “Ekrem Imamoglu is the kind of president we hope for, with his constructive and joyful character, embracing everyone.”
One person was killed and eleven others were injured in a southeast event involving parties fighting with weapons, sticks, and stones. In addition, one muhtar candidate was killed and four people wounded in a fight, the state-owned Anadolu news agency said.
It also said 16 people were hurt in a clash in Sanliurfa, while a muhtar was stabbed in Afyonkarahisar in the west. Demiroren reported separately that one person was shot dead and two wounded overnight in Bursa.
(Reuters)
