By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL -Turkish President Erdogan remained stoic after his party, AK Party (Justice and Development Party) was defeated in all local elections across Turkiye by the CHP (People’s Republic Party) with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, receiving over 50% of the vote over the opposition candidate. As Erdogan declared, though his party was defeated in Istanbul, he said the election was a victory for “democracy” and the will of the people in Turkiye. It’s the first time in the 21 years of Erdogan’s rule, that his party has seen such a dramatic defeat in all local elections nationwide. In other cities across Turkiye, it was a clean sweep with the CHP wave winning in unprecedented numbers. In Ankara, CHP opposition mayoral candidate Mansur Yavas with over 60% of the vote declared victory when fewer than half the votes had come in. In Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Bursa, Balikesir and Adiyaman CHP made a clean sweep victory. CHP supporters were en mass, rejoicing in the streets across Turkiye and Imamoglu shouted out to supporters that the days of “one man rule are over,” as the crowds cheered wildly. Imamoglu first won the seat for mayor in Istanbul in 2019 and now with his second victory, the secular CHP party is on a roll.
The election was a major win for CHP Party Chairman Ozgur Ozel who lauded voters for their decision to see change in Turkiye. As Ozel commented to the media: “They want to open the door to a new political climate in our country.” Meanwhile, while Erdogan told his supporters that the election didn’t turn out as he hoped, he said it doesn’t mean the end of the AK Paerty “but rather a turning point.” Erdogan also said the “people’s will” is important and said this would be his last election campaign since his presidential term ends in 2028. Analysts said Erdogan’s party had expected to take an easy sweep in local elections across the country but they also pointed out some reasons why that didn’t happen. Many Turks not only were unhappy with the runaway inflation of the last two years in Turkiye, there are also those who saw Erdogan’s government fail them in the earthquake-ravaged areas of eastern Turkiye though his party won in the southeast with the exception of Adiyaman. Why a CHP victory is significant is also because some analysts and observers had indicated that if the AK Party swept local elections that it would embolden Erdogan to change the constitution as he had announced he planned on doing. Imamoglu said: “I can say that our citizens’ trust and faith in us has been rewarded.” Erdogan speaking fron the balcony of his party headquarters in Ankara, told his supporters that he promises to use his remaining time in office to “renew ourselves and compensate for our mistakes.” Approximately 61 million Turks were eligible to vote in March 31 elections with over a million of those consisting of young voters. casting ballots for the first time. It’s estimated that voter turnout in Turkiye reached over 77% across the country’s 61 provinces.
Photo : AA
