The biggest defeat in more than two decades has been inflicted on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) as Turkey’s main opposition party claimed victory in Istanbul and Ankara in local elections.
With most of the votes counted, Ekrem Imamoglu secured a second term as Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, while his Republican People’s Party (CHP) retained Ankara and gained 15 other mayoral seats in cities nationwide.
According to Turkish news agency, CHP prevailed in 36 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, making inroads into many AK Party strongholds.
It gained 37% of the votes nationwide, compared to 36% for the President’s party, marking the CHP’s greatest electoral victory since Erdogan came to power two decades ago.
In previous local elections in 2019, Imamoglu won Istanbul’s mayoral race. The recent local elections represent a new blow to Erdogan who had set his sights on retaking control of the urban areas.
The current local electoral outcome underscores a notable shift in Turkish politics, with the AK Party losing ground in many of its traditional strongholds.
The fact that the CHP not only retained control of Ankara but also made gains in several other key cities highlights the erosion of support for Erdogan’s party.
These results are not merely about municipal governance but reflect broader sentiments regarding Erdogan’s tenure.
The defeat in Istanbul, where Erdogan was born and served as mayor in the 1990s, carries a symbolic weight. It demonstrates that even in Erdogan’s political backyard, there is growing discontent and a desire for change among the electorate.
Moreover, these election results suggest a broader dissatisfaction with Erdogan’s leadership and underscores the AK Party’s failure to connect with a substantial portion of the electorate, especially in urban centers where issues such as economic downturns, democratic backsliding, and concerns about civil liberties have been particularly salient.
Speaking to supporters while declaring victory, Imamoglu said, “My dear Istanbulites, you opened the door to a new future today.”
He noted, “Turkey will be a different Turkey. You opened the door to the rise of democracy, equality and freedom … You ignited hope at the ballot box.”
“Those who do not understand the nation’s message will eventually lose,” Imamoglu, stated, adding, “Tonight, 16 million Istanbul citizens sent a message to both our rivals and the President.”
“The voters decided to establish a new political order in Turkey,” CHP leader, Ozgur Ozel told a crowd of jubilant supporters.
Ozel added, “Today, the voters decided to change the 22-year-old picture in Turkey and open the door to a new political climate in our country.”
In a speech delivered from the balcony of the presidential palace, Erdogan acknowledged that his party had “lost altitude” across the country and said he would self-reflect and rectify any mistakes.
He said that the people delivered a “message” that his party will “analyse” by engaging in “courageous” self-criticism.
He praised the vote itself rather than the outcome.
“Regardless of the results, the winner of this election is primarily democracy,” he said.
“Unfortunately, nine months after our victory in the May 28 elections, we could not get the result we wanted in the local election…Everything happens for a reason. We will rebuild trust in places where our nation has chosen someone else.
“We will correct our mistakes and redress our shortcomings.”
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
He vowed to press ahead with an economic program introduced last year that aims to combat inflation.
Severest Election Defeat
Mert Arslanalp, assistant professor of political science at Istanbul’s Bogazici University, asserted that it was Erdogan’s “severest election defeat” since coming to national power in 2002.
“Imamoglu demonstrated he could reach across the deep socio-political divisions that define Turkey’s opposition electorate even without their institutional support,” he said.
“This makes him the most politically competitive rival to Erdogan’s regime,” Arslanalp added.
Sinan Ulgen, Director of the Istanbul-based Edam think tank, told a news agency that “the surprising outcome” was the result of voters wanting to punish the governing party over the state of the economy.
He described the elections as a “watershed for Imamoglu” adding that he will emerge as the “natural candidate of the opposition for the next round of presidential elections.”
“There were cross-party shifts in the vote, which did not happen in the national elections because of stronger ideological attachments. This time around the economy prevailed over identity.”
Sinan Ulgen
He also disclosed that turnout was relatively low compared to past elections.
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