The local elections in Turkey see the opposition mayors of Istanbul and Ankara, Ekrem Imamoglu and Mansur Yavas, defeat the candidates supported by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had already lost in the two largest Turkish cities in the consultations five years ago. With almost 65% of the votes counted, Imamoglu is leading in Istanbul with 50.2% of the votes and the challenger supported by Erdogan, Murat Kurum, is stuck at 41%. In the capital, Yavas leads the race with 58.5% of the vote, leaving Erdogan’s candidate at 33%, with 38% of the votes counted.
“Today our voters made a very important decision, they decided to establish a new policy in Turkey.” This was stated by Ozgur Ozel, the Secretary of the main opposition party CHP, whose mayors in Istanbul and Ankara maintained control in both cities in the local elections, beating the candidates supported by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “The CHP has achieved a historic result and has decided how to govern our country and our municipalities,” added Ozel, in a speech broadcast on TV.
Administrative videos in Türkiye, Erdogan votes in Istanbul
“We won”. This was stated by Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul who, with over 85% of the ballots counted, obtained more than 50% of the votes, being reconfirmed as first citizen and therefore beating Murat Kurum, the candidate supported by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stuck at 40%. “The people of Istanbul gave us the authority,” Imamoglu said as he declared victory, during a speech at the headquarters of the main opposition CHP party in Istanbul. “You have opened the door for the future,” said Imamoglu, thanking the voters and criticizing “the authoritarian system” of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Administrative videos in Turkey, the anti-Erdogan mayor votes in Istanbul
Erdogan, ‘we didn’t get what we wanted in the vote’
“Unfortunately we couldn’t get the result we wanted in the elections.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this during a speech from the headquarters of his AKP party in Ankara, broadcast by state TV TRT. Erdogan admitted defeat, after his party’s candidates lost in Ankara and Istanbul and in all the major cities of the country. “God willing, we will continue our path by winning,” the Turkish president added.
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