For the first time in 21 years, the opposition won a serious victory in elections in Turkey.
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According to preliminary results after 99.59% of the votes were counted in the municipal elections held on March 31 in Turkey, the largest opposition party CHP won the overall results across the country, ahead of the ruling AKP party – 37.73% to 35.5%.
The CHP won 35 of the 81 provinces, and the AKP won 24.
In the five largest cities, the ruling AKP lost to the opposition CHP:
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Istanbul: 51.06% (CHP)/39.6% (AKP);
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Ankara – 60.35% / 31.72%;
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Izmir – 48.89%/37.10%;
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Bursa – 47.59% / 38.36%;
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Adana – 46.47%/37.42%
The Financial Times notes that Erdogan faces his worst election defeat since he came to power 20 years ago.
The CHP saw its greatest triumph in Istanbul, where Ekrem Imaoğlu was re-elected mayor. Europe’s largest city, Istanbul, is home to 18% of Turkey’s population and develops a third of its economy.
In his victory speech on Sunday evening, Imaoğlu said the results of the local elections would have big implications for the country’s political future.
Tomorrow a new era of democracy will begin in Turkey. March 31, 2024 is the day when the erosion of democracy will end and democracy will begin to be restored, he told a large crowd in Istanbul.
Imamoglu is seen as a future challenger to Erdogan, and the victory in the city that catapulted the current president to national popularity when he became mayor 30 years ago is a symbolic achievement, Politico writes.
Erdogan admitted defeat and promised to listen to the message of Turkish voters.
March 31 is not the end for us, but a turning point,” he said.
Turkey’s longtime leader, who has served as president or prime minister since 2003, has vowed to retake the city where he made his political career and dispatched at least 17 government ministers to campaign in Istanbul ahead of the vote.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.