Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey, has suffered a serious electoral blow in the local elections held this Sunday in the Asian country. According to the preliminary results of the recount, the largest opposition party, the social democratic Republican People’s Party (CHP), would have successfully prevailed against the official party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP).
With 60.34% of the vote, the CHP would have received 37.46% of the vote, compared to 36.54% for the AKP: although it is a comfortable difference, the distribution of these votes will allow such important cities as Istanbul, Ankara or Izmir to rule for resistance against Erdogan.
The state capital Ankara is governed by a CHP candidate: Mansur Yavas won 59% of the vote, surpassing the AKP candidate by almost five points. In Istanbul, another important enclave, is the CHP mayor Ekrem Imamoglu renews his mandate with 50.6% of the vote, compared to 40.81% received by the Erdogan Party candidate, Murat Kurum. The country’s third largest city, Izmir, Even after these elections it will be governed by a CHP candidate.
Istanbul and Ankara had already had CHP mayoralties since 2019, although this victory allowed the Social Democrats to expand their influence beyond usual fiefdoms and seize power in enclaves like Bursa. While the CHP has increased from 23 to 35 provinces, the AKP suffers a setback as it falls out of the province 38 to 35. The rise of the AKP’s main ally, The Islamic fundamentalist party Yenideh Refah damaged Erdogan’s party in the election campaign.
CHP “historic victory”
“Today voters decided to change and end the imbalance of power. The CHP has won a historic victory” CHP President Özgür Özel told the press, adding: “A clear message was sent to the government: We want the rule of law to be returned to us, a country of all colors where differences are wealth.”
However, Özel wanted to strike a conciliatory tone and encourage his party members to “celebrate as quietly and intimately as possible without disturbing the supporters of other parties.” “There is no loser in this victory, no one should feel defeated by our victory.” Good management was rewarded and bad management was punished.“said the leader of a party that is celebrating excellent election results.
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will rule the country for 25 years at the end of his term in office: the leader has been widely criticized for his authoritarian style and his nationalist and Islamist discourse. Last May, Erdogan reissued his mandate and won with 52.51% ahead of the opposition candidate. Kemal Kiliçdaroglu.
