Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) is the big winner of the local elections took place on Sunday March 31. While dozens of cities changed hands in favor of CHP, the voters in the largest 5 cities including Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir voted overwhelmingly for CHP as Turks still struggle with economic woes and high inflation.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of CHP led by a wide margin in Turkey’s largest city with 50.8 of votes as his opponent Murat Kurum had 40.1% of votes.
CHP led nationwide by capturing 38 percent of the national vote, a first since 1977 while support for President Erdogan’s ruling AKP fell to 35 percent.
In capital Ankara, support for the opposition candidate Mansur Yavas was even more dramatic, with incumbent Yavas declared victory with 60 percent of the vote, while opponent Turgut Altinok took 32 percent.
CHP also seized control of Turkey’s fourth-biggest city Bursa and Balikesir in the north-west, and retained control of Izmir, Adana and Antalya.
