Turkey’s main opposition party the Republican People’s Party (CHP) retained control over key cities and made significant gains in local elections, dealing a blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, Associated Press reports.
The CHP won municipalities in 36 provinces, marking its largest electoral victory in two decades. Incumbent Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu maintained a wide lead, while Mansur Yavas secured victory in Ankara. The results position Imamoglu as a potential challenger to Erdogan in the next presidential election
Erdogan acknowledged the setback and vowed to address shortcomings while continuing economic initiatives. Analysts attribute the opposition’s success to voter dissatisfaction over economic challenges, with skyrocketing inflation impacting households.
