In the recent local elections in Turkey, the opposition party achieved huge election victories in Turkish cities of Istanbul and Ankara.
Election Results Stun Recep Tayyip Erdogan
The election results have astounded the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He was hoping to take back control over these important cities. The third time Prime Minister, was in the forefront of the election campaign of Istanbul, as mentioned in a news article of BBC.
Istanbul, which is a major economic hub, inhabited by more than 15 million , is very close to Mr. Erdogan’s heart because he was born and brought up there and his career in politics also has roots from the same city. He commenced his career in politics in the year 1994 as a Mayor,as reported by The Hindu in an article.
As per Anadolu Agency , Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, of the Republican People’s Party which is also known as CHP, was way ahead in Turkey’s most important city of Istanbul. While at the same time the Mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, won by a clear difference of twenty five points against his opponent.
Historic Victory for CHP
This is the biggest win for the CHP in the past twenty years, since Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power.
The Republican People’s Party got victory in 36 out of 81 Turkish provinces. The party managed to gain a total of thirty seven percent of the total votes while the Recep Tayyip Erdogan party won thirty six percent of votes.
Besides this, the Republican People’s Party – also won in cities like Balikesir , Busra, Adana Izmir, and the resort of Antalya.
The results of this election will certainly increase the confidence of the opposition party. The CHP suffered a major setback last year , in both Presidential and Parliamentary elections against Mr. Erdogan’s party .
Also, the victory of CHP, in the year 2019, broke Mr. Erdogan’s belief that he is too powerful to be defeated.
What did Recep Tayyip Erdogan say after the Election Result?
Erdogan, while giving a speech from his Presidential Palace, recognised the defeat in the elections and said that his party went through “ a loss of altitude” in these elections. He said that his party will analyze the performance and the shortcomings. The President further said that their party won on 28th May 2023, but they couldn’t manage to achieve a similar victory in the local elections of Turkey.
Celebration by the Victors
The chairman of the Republican People’s Party , Ozgur Ozel, appreciated the voters for voting for them and bringing a change by electing them with such a huge victory.
As mentioned in an article by BBC, a large number of people gathered outside the town hall in Sarachane, a large number of people gathered. Also, Turkish flags were waved and many people carried posters and banners of Ekrem Imamoglu’s image on them.
Mr. Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul, said that the trust of the voters in him and his party has been compensated and rewarded.
Conclusion
Mansur Yavas, Mayor of Ankara and Mr. Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul, is being considered as a candidate for the upcoming elections of 2028, for the post of President.
The Mayor of Istanbul had used the slogan “full speed ahead” when he won 5 years back in Istanbul against Erdogan. Many banners and posters were having the same slogan while celebrating the victory in Sarachane.
