Erdogan described the local elections as a turning point, stating that his party will assess the results and heed the messages conveyed by the people. He also remarked on the economic toll of the election process coming to an end.
On Sunday, the state-run Turkish news agency Anadolu published official results after counting some ballot boxes, showing the opposition Republican People’s Party’s progress in major cities such as Izmir, Bursa, Antalya and Adana, according to Asharq News,
Reuters said that the opposition party is leading in the municipal elections by 37.15%, after counting 75% of the votes in all governorates.
After counting about 79% of the ballot boxes, the outgoing mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, won 50.5% of the votes, compared to 40.7% for his main competitor, Murat Kurum, the candidate of the ruling “Crowd” coalition headed by Erdogan.
Imamoglu announced “victory” in the Istanbul mayoral elections, noting “advancement in voting by more than a million votes, after 96% of the ballot papers were counted.”
He added: “Based on the data we collected, I can say that the support and trust that our citizens place in us has already appeared, and the current picture pleases us very much.”
Ankara Elections
As for the capital, Ankara, outgoing mayor Mansur Yavas of the opposition Republican People’s Party topped the results with 58.6% of the votes, compared to 33.5% for his rival Turgut Altinok, candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party, after counting 46.4% of the ballots.
On his part, Mansur Yavas announced that he would retain the mayorship of the Turkish capital, Ankara, in front of a crowd of his supporters, saying: “The elections are over, and we will continue to serve Ankara and its six million residents without discrimination.”
Ozgur Ozil, head of the Republican People’s Party, the largest opposition group in Turkey, also considered that “voters chose to change the face of Turkey” after 22 years of dominance by the ruling Justice and Development Party, adding that voters “wanted to open the door to a new political climate in our country.”
Polling stations in 81 governorates in the country closed their doors between 16:00 and 17:00 (13:00 and 14:00 GMT).
Ahmet Yenir, head of the Supreme Election Council, informed reporters that the electoral process concluded smoothly despite minor incidents. However, violence erupted at an electoral committee in Diyarbakir, resulting in the death of one citizen and injuries to others during the start of the local elections.
Thirty-four parties are vying in the ongoing elections, which will decide the mayors for 81 states, 973 districts, and 390 towns, along with 50,336 mukhtars, in addition to municipal council members.
New Era
Erdogan, accompanied by his wife, Emine Erdogan, went from his home in the Uskudar district of Istanbul to the Sefat Çepi School, to cast their votes.
In a press statement after the vote, Erdogan considered that these elections would mark “the beginning of a new era in the country,” adding: “We recently held parliamentary elections and presidential elections, and today we are holding local government elections. These successive elections have tired us, and they have also tired our nation, because it was… “We have a very intense campaign.”
He emphasized that his country enters a new era with the recent local and presidential elections, noting the people’s loyalty on both occasions. He expressed confidence in a positive outcome for Turkey and its people and thanked those safeguarding the ballot boxes for their efforts.
In the same context, Murat Kurum, the candidate of the ruling “Public” Alliance for the presidency of the Greater Istanbul Municipality, and his competitor, Ekrem Imamoglu, the candidate of the “Republican People’s Party”, the largest opposition party, cast their votes in the elections.
In a press statement after the vote, Qurum expressed his hope that the election results would “benefit and benefit Turkey and the Turkish people.”
On the other hand, Imamoglu told reporters: “Istanbul will wake up tomorrow to a beautiful spring morning,” considering that “voting is a sacred right for our citizens in democracy, and this right must be protected, and I hope that the elections will go smoothly.”
The position of Istanbul mayor attracted 49 candidates, 22 from political parties and 27 independents, reflecting the city’s significance in Turkey.
Imamoglu, the Istanbul Mayor, dealt Erdogan a significant electoral blow in 2019. However, Erdogan won a new term in 2023, aided by nationalist allies.
Erdogan’s prospects have risen following the collapse of the opposition coalition, despite Imamoglu’s continued popularity outside the main opposition party.
The current elections could also strengthen Erdogan’s control over Turkey, a member of NATO, or indicate a change in the divided political landscape in the country, which is a large emerging economy.
Imamoglu’s victory is seen as fueling expectations that he will become a national leader in the future, according to Reuters.
Related Topics :
Turkish Protestors Raise Abu Obeida Pic. on Ankara Bridge amid Blinken’s Visit
Russian,Turkish Tourists Express Admiration for King Abdulaziz Camel Festival
Erdogan’s VP Praises Saudi Crown Prince’s recent visit to Turkey
