Erdogan battles archrival for chance to retake Istanbul in Turkish local polls

Opinion polls show a tight race in Istanbul, a city of 16 million that drives Turkey’s economy.

Istanbul:

Turks voted in municipal elections across the country on Sunday, focusing on President Tayyip Erdogan’s bid to wrest control of Istanbul from arch-rival Ekrem Imamoglu The latter’s efforts aim to re-establish the opposition as a political force after last year’s electoral defeat.

Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu’s victory in the 2019 election dealt Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party the biggest electoral blow in two decades in power. In 2023, the president fought back, securing re-election and a parliamentary majority with his nationalist allies.

Sunday’s vote could now strengthen Erdogan’s grip on NATO member Turkey or mark a change in the political landscape that divides major emerging economies. Imamoglu’s victory has heightened expectations that he will become the country’s future leader.

Polling stations opened at 7 am (0400 GMT) in eastern Turkey, with voting in other regions starting at 8 am and ending at 5 pm. Preliminary results are expected to be announced at 10pm (1900 GMT).

Polls show Imamoglu faces a challenge from Justice and Development Party candidate Murat Kurum, a former minister, in Istanbul, a city of 16 million that drives Turkey’s economy.

The results may be influenced in part by economic woes caused by inflation of nearly 70% and by Kurdish and Islamic voters weighing the government’s performance and their hopes for political change.

While Erdogan’s main target is Istanbul, he also seeks to retake the capital, Ankara. Both cities have been ruled by the AKP and Islamist predecessors for the past 25 years, with the opposition winning both cities in 2019.

Erdogan’s prospects have benefited from the collapse of the opposition coalition he defeated last year, although Imamoglu still appeals to voters beyond his main opposition Republican People’s Party.

Voters supporting the main Kurdish parties will be crucial to Imamoglu’s success in 2019. Their Democratic Party has elected its own candidate in Istanbul this time, but many Kurds are expected to put aside party loyalties and vote for him again.

In the predominantly Kurdish southeast, the Democratic Party has ousted a mayor from a pro-Kurdish party over alleged links to militants and hopes to reaffirm its strength.

One factor working against Erdogan is rising support for the Islamist New Welfare Party, which has taken a hard line against Israel on the Gaza conflict and is dissatisfied with the way the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party handles the economy.

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