ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's main opposition party maintained control of major cities, with Recep aiming to regain control of those urban areas with significant victories in other regions in Sunday's local elections.・This greatly upset President Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, the vote count in the ballot boxes exceeded 90%, and incumbent Ekrem Imamorglu of the Republican People's Party (CHP) had a wide lead as mayor of Istanbul, Turkey's largest city and economic center. . According to the results, the mayor of the capital Ankara, Mansour Yabas, retained his seat with a staggering 25-point lead over his challenger.
According to Anadolu, the CHP has taken control of municipalities in 36 of Turkey's 81 provinces and has advanced into many strongholds of Erdoğan's party. It won 37% of the national vote to the president's party's 36%, marking the CHP's biggest electoral victory since Erdogan came to power 20 years ago.
President Erdogan acknowledged the electoral setback in a speech from the balcony of the presidential palace, saying his party had suffered a “high degree of decline” across Turkey. He said the people had sent a “message” that the party would “analyse” by conducting “courageous” self-criticism.
“Unfortunately, nine months after our victory in the May 28 elections, the test of local elections did not give us the desired results,” Erdoğan added. “We will correct our mistakes and make up for our shortcomings.”
He vowed to press ahead with economic programs introduced last year aimed at fighting inflation.
Voting was seen as a barometer for President Erdoğan's popularity as he asked To regain control of major urban areas He lost to the opposition in an election five years ago. The CHP's victories in Ankara and Istanbul in 2019 shattered Erdogan's aura of invincibility.
The main battlefield for the 70-year-old Turkish president it was istanbulHe was born and raised in the city of 16 million people and began his political career as mayor in 1994.
The result was a boost for the opposition, which was fragmented and demoralized after losing last year's presidential and parliamentary elections to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Islamist-oriented Justice and Development Party (AKP).
“Voters have decided to establish a new political order in Turkey,” CHP leader Ozgur Ozer told the jubilant crowd. “Today, voters decided to change Turkey's 22-year history and open the door to a new political landscape for our country.”
Meanwhile, a large crowd gathered outside Ankara City Hall to celebrate Yabas' victory. “Ankara is proud of you!” supporters chanted.
Sinan Urgen, director of Istanbul-based think tank Edam, said the “surprising result” was due to voters seeking to punish the ruling party for the “severe economic downturn.” Many families in Turkey are struggling to afford basic necessities due to soaring inflation.
Urgen said AKP supporters chose to stay away from polling stations or vote for other parties.
“Turnout was relatively low compared to past elections,” he said. “There was vote swing across party lines, but it didn't happen in national elections because of strong ideological attachments. This time, economics took precedence over identity.”
Approximately 61 million people, including more than 1 million first-time voters, were eligible to vote for all metropolitan municipalities, town and district mayoral positions, and neighborhood governments.
Ankara mayor and Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Mansour Yabas votes at a polling station in Ankara on Sunday, March 31, 2024. Turkey will hold local elections on Sunday to decide who will control Istanbul and other major cities. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)
Voter turnout was about 76%, compared with 87% last year, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
Approximately 594,000 security personnel were on duty across the country to ensure the smooth voting. Nevertheless, in the city of Diyarbakir, a dispute over the election of a district administrator escalated into violence, leaving one person dead and 11 others injured, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. At least six people were injured in fighting that also broke out in nearby Sanliurfa province.
“According to the data we have, it appears that the people's trust in us, their trust in us, has been rewarded,” Imamoglu said.
In Istanbul, Imamoglu won 50.6% of the vote, while AKP candidate and former urbanization and environment minister Murat Kurum won 40.5%, according to Anadolu Agency. The opinion poll pointed out that A close battle between the two.
Election representatives count votes at a polling station in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 31, 2024. Turkey will hold local elections on Sunday to decide who will control Istanbul and other major cities. (AP Photo/Emra Gurel)
A woman votes at a polling station in Ankara on Sunday, March 31, 2024. Turkey is holding local elections on Sunday to decide who will control Istanbul and other major cities. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)
Imamoğlu, a popular figure who has been touted as a potential future challenger to Erdogan, ran without the support of some of the parties that helped him win in 2019. The pro-Kurdish People's Equality Democratic Party and the nationalist IYI party have both launched their own political parties. Candidates in the race.
The CHP-led six-party opposition coalition collapsed after failing to oust Erdogan in last year's general election, failing to capitalize on the economic crisis and poor initial government response. Last year's devastating earthquake More than 53,000 people died.
Urgen said the results put İmamoğlu in the position of opposition leader candidate to challenge Erdoğan in the 2028 presidential election.
“This result was certainly a turning point for Imamour,” he said. “He will emerge as a natural opposition candidate for the next presidential election.
The New Welfare Party (YRP), a new religiously conservative party, appears to have attracted the votes of AKP supporters disillusioned with the government's economic response.
In southeastern Turkey, where the population is predominantly Kurdish, the DEM party was on track to win many municipalities, but it is unclear whether they will be allowed to keep them. Erdogan's government has previously removed pro-Kurdish elected mayors because of their ties to Kurdish armed groups and replaced them with state-elected trustees.
Analysts say a strong stance from Erdogan's party could signal his determination to pass a new constitution that reflects his conservative values and allows him to rule beyond his current term in 2028. states that it has become fixed.
Erdogan has ruled Turkey for more than 20 years, serving as prime minister since 2003 and president since 2014. advocate the establishment of a new constitution It will put family values at the forefront.
___
Kiper reported from Bodrum, Turkey.
