Winning City Halls, Turkish Opposition Strikes Blow to Erdogan

Source:New York Times Date:08Apr2024

Mr. Erdogan’s opponents secured a surprising string of victories in local elections across Turkey on Sunday, increasing the number of the country’s cities under their control and further ensconcing them in most of the major metropolises.

Those opposition victories could serve as a check on Mr. Erdogan’s power at home, analysts said, while enabling rising opposition stars to wield the large budgets of major cities to build their profiles before the next presidential election, expected in 2028.

The Republican People’s Party increased the number of cities it runs to 35, from 21, out of a total of 81. The party’s mayors now control six of the country’s 10 largest cities, including the top five: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa and Antalya.

The loss in Istanbul was a particularly tough blow to Mr. Erdogan, given the vast budget, the large number of jobs its city hall controls and Mr. Erdogan’s personal ties to the city. He not only grew up there but also propelled his own political career forward by winning an upset election to become the city’s mayor in 1994.

The victory by Mr. Imamoglu, 52, was his third against candidates backed by Mr. Erdogan, leading many Turks to view him as a potential contender for the presidency.