How Erdogan plans to adjust after election bruising
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The main Turkish opposition party claimed on Sunday victory in the mayoral election in the capital Ankara.
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Supporters of Justice and Development (AK) Party at the AK Party Headquarters in Ankara, on April 1. (AFP)
Although the Turkish President's opponents celebrated Sunday's local election defeat as if he was deposed, his "reis" (chief) is still in power for another 4 years, AFP reported.
It was a rare setback for Erdogan, 70, who has been in power for 21 years and was re-elected in May with more than 52% of the vote, although after his first run-off.
The main Turkish opposition party claimed on Sunday victory in the mayoral election in the capital Ankara and Istanbul, despite the President's hope and effort to retake them.
It is noteworthy that Turkey has been dominated for more than two decades by the AKP of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The President had launched an all-out campaign to win back Istanbul, which was lost to the CHP in 2019, only to be lost again last night.
However, Oxford University political scientist Dimitar Bechev expressed that Erdogan, a "seasoned politician," will adjust, noting that "co-existence with mayors is already tried and tested."
Erdogan expressed on Sunday that the AKP would "work with the mayors who have won" and encouraged his party of "self-criticism".
"Turkey has more than four years' worth of treasure ahead of it. We cannot waste this period with discussions that will waste the time of the nation and the country," he declared.
With 265 members, the AKP is by far the most powerful force in the 598-seat parliament, and its coalition with the far-right MHP has increased its representation to 314.
The majority's authority is limited: it does not have enough votes to amend the constitution to allow Erdogan to run for president again in 2028.
Bayram Balci of Paris' Sciences Po University stated that after 2028, Erdogan's position is compromised and may involve a "transfer of power," noting that he has "bet on nationalism and the vital battle against terrorism, which the CHP will find hard to oppose."
"Without Erdogan, there's not much to the AKP."
The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Turkey is now confirmed to be leading in 35 cities, while the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has garnered only 24 cities with 99.9% of the ballots counted, per Supreme Election Council chief Ahmet Yener.
Opposition wins Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir
As 99.81% of the polling stations' votes have been processed, Yavas received 60.35% of the votes and his AKP opponent, Turgut Altinok, garnered 31.69%.
This shows that the opposition mayors of Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir maintained their posts.
Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing supporters at his party's headquarters in Ankara, acknowledged a "turning point" for his party and promised to respect the results.
With 96% of ballot boxes opened, Istanbul's CHP mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said he had led the local vote against Erdogan's candidate by more than one million votes. "We have won the election," he declared.
The CHP was also ahead in Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city, and Antalya where party supporters flooded the streets. Results even indicated that some AKP stronghold towns were at risk of being won over by the CHP.
