Turkey's local elections on Sunday resulted in a significant setback for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, as the main opposition party claimed victory in key cities such as Istanbul and Ankara.
The elections, which took place nationwide, saw the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) winning 49 out of 81 municipalities, including 14 out of 30 urban areas in the country, according to preliminary official results from Turkey's High Electoral Council.
In Istanbul, CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu was re-elected as mayor with 51.1% of the votes, while in Ankara, CHP candidate Mansur Yavas secured 60.4% of the vote. The CHP also won in Izmir with Cemil Tugay receiving 48.9% of the vote.
Imamoglu, addressing supporters in Istanbul, declared the end of the era of one-man rule and emphasized the importance of democratic values in the face of rising authoritarianism.
For Erdogan, losing Istanbul was a significant blow as the city has been a stronghold for religiously inclined parties for the past 25 years. The AK Party lost 10 districts in Istanbul, including Beyoglu, where Erdogan was born.
Although Erdogan was not a candidate in this election, the results were seen as a test for the AK Party's ability to regain the cities lost in the 2019 elections. Erdogan, in a speech at AK Party headquarters, acknowledged the defeat and expressed his commitment to respecting the will of the Turkish people.
Overall, the local elections in Turkey have signaled a shift in political dynamics and a renewed emphasis on democratic principles, as the opposition party's victories in key cities have reshaped the country's political landscape.
