Turkish elections: Opposition ahead in race to govern Istanbul and other cities

Turkey’s main opposition party has made significant gains in some of the country’s biggest cities, including Istanbul, in high-stakes local elections. Istanbul’s opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who previously won the city in 2019, expressed his happiness with the current results.

A year after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured a third term, he has been focused on reclaiming Istanbul, where he previously served as mayor. The secular nationalist opposition is also leading in the capital city of Ankara, with Mayor Mansur Yavas ahead in the polls.

Both Yavas and Imamoglu are considered potential candidates for the presidency in 2028. The election in Istanbul was closely contested, with the incumbent mayor facing a strong challenge from AK Party candidate Murat Kurum.

President Erdogan, who led his party’s campaign, promised a new era for Turkey’s largest city. However, his government has struggled to address the economic crisis, with high inflation and interest rates.

With over half of the votes counted in Istanbul, Imamoglu was leading by nine points. He expressed gratitude for the trust and faith shown by the citizens. In Ankara, Yavas was also leading by a significant margin.

The opposition party was ahead in other major cities like Izmir, Bursa, and Antalya. The AK Party did find success in areas affected by the 2023 earthquakes in the southeast.

Overall, voter turnout was estimated at over 76% across Turkey’s 81 provinces, with more than 61 million eligible voters participating in the election. The results of these local elections are seen as a test of President Erdogan’s popularity after 21 years in power.