Turkey’s Major Cities Shock Erdogan’s AKP in Local Elections

By: Norhan Mahmoud 

ANKARA, Apr. 1 (SEE)- Turkey’s opposition pulled off major wins in big cities on Sunday’s local vote, taking back the grip from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for the first time in years. 

Ankara, Istanbul and other major cities have all failed the AKP. 

Even though, Mr. Erdogan challenged the ballot box, proclaiming triumph. 

And, State owned Anadolu news agency announced that an Erdogan-Alliance scored 51.7% of the total polls. 

After the CHP party’s victory in Izmir, Leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu wrote on twitter that people favored democracy, “spring is coming to Istanbul.“

https://twitter.com/kilicdarogluk/status/1112475724894605315?s=12

Almost 85% of the registered 57 million electors casted their votes across 30 cities, 51 provincial capitals and 922 districts. 

In Turkey, local elections are substantial for being the fountain of political strength. Mr. Erdogan’s mayorship of Istanbul entrenched his diplomatic stature.  

Late last year, Turkey plunged into economic recession. Thus, the race was defying for Mr. Erdogan, whose conservative views and intensified powers nationwide is highly criticized. And most probably, that’s why the president did all he can to mediate the elections, through his opponents-controlled media, as crucial for the country’s “survival.”