Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul, celebrates triumph, dealing a blow to the longstanding power of the Turkish president after two decades.
In Turkey’s local elections, the primary opposition party has declared triumph in Istanbul and Ankara, marking the largest setback for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in over twenty years. With over 95 percent of ballots tallied in Istanbul on Sunday, Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) announced his victory over the AK Party candidate by a margin exceeding one million votes.
“Those who fail to grasp the message of the nation will eventually face defeat,” stated Imamoglu, a former businessman, addressing thousands of supporters late on Sunday.
“Tonight, 16 million citizens of Istanbul have sent a clear message to both our opponents and the president.”
In the capital, Ankara, Mayor Mansur Yavas of the CHP claimed victory over his opponent, interpreting the outcome as a decisive statement to the country’s rulers.
Notably, the CHP was poised to secure victories in several of Turkey’s major urban centres, such as Izmir, Bursa, Adana, and the popular resort destination of Antalya.
According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, the CHP triumphed in 36 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, making significant progress in numerous strongholds of the AK Party.
Opposition supporters gathered in Istanbul to commemorate the results, with tens of thousands lighting torches and waving Turkish flags.
Speaking from the balcony of the presidential palace, Erdogan, who has been in power since 2002, admitted that his party had experienced a decline in support across the nation. He pledged to engage in introspection and address any shortcomings.
“We will correct our mistakes and redress our shortcomings,” he declared.
