Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia
US Vice President JD Vance: There is currently no security infrastructure in place to ensure the disarmament of Hamas
Israeli occupation forces said that "ceasefire in Gaza begins to be re-implemented."
Israeli media: 'Israel' to halt entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza until further notice.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One woman was killed and several children were injured as a result of Israeli bombing of displaced Gazans' tents in the Mawasi area of ​​Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza: An Israeli airstrike targeted the eastern areas of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza: An Israeli airstrike targeted Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
Al-Qassam Brigades: Communication has been severed with what our remaining fighters (if any are still alive) in Rafah, which is currently under occupation's control.

Turkey's local elections and Erdogan's race for Istanbul and Ankara

  • By Rachel Hamdoun
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 29 Mar 2024 22:10
4 Min Read

The key switch in this year's local elections is Istanbul alongside Ankara - one for the money and two for the power. This local election goes much deeper than it seems and serves a fateful purpose for Erdogan, because at the moment he doesn't have enough parliamentary seats to enact a new constitution that would allow him to run for a third term after 2028. 

  • x
  • An image of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu (Illustrated by: Zeinab el Hajj, Al Mayadeen English)
    An image of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu (Illustrated by: Zeinab el Hajj, Al Mayadeen English)

'Lafla peynir gemisi yürümez' - literally translates to 'the cheese ship does not run on words' - or simply put, actions speak louder than words. 

That's something Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party is going to have to prove amid the ongoing local and municipal elections if he wants to keep the upper hand in Turkish politics. 

We've all witnessed the tough presidential elections last year in Turkey, but current events in Turkey, such as the skyrocketing inflation and the February 6 devastating earthquakes, played and continue to play a pivotal role in both Erdogan and his party's fate, especially in the way he has responded to the aftermath of the earthquake and economic mismanagement. 

The key switch in this year's local elections is Istanbul alongside Ankara - one for the money and two for the power. This local election goes much deeper than it seems and serves a fateful purpose for Erdogan because, at the moment, he doesn't have enough parliamentary seats to enact a new constitution that would allow him to run for a third term after 2028. 

Sunday and the day after will prove to be a game changer. Erdogan has nominated Murat Kurum as his party's candidate for the mayor of Istanbul against the opposition's current Istanbul mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu. In Ankara, it's Erdogan's pick Turgut Altinok against the opposition's Mansur Yavaş.

With the last local elections held in 2019, the two major political parties - the AKP (Adalet ve Kalkinma partisi) and the CHP (Cumhuriyet ve Halk Partisi) - have been going head to head since then and are currently competing for the two cities that will set the stage for the upcoming presidential battle: Istanbul and Ankara.

The 'Wall Street' of Turkey 

Related News

Tufan Erhurman elected TRNC leader in decisive opposition victory

Hamas offers gratitude to mediators, allies for Gaza ceasefire support

There are 34 political parties participating in the elections, among them are the AKP and MHP (the Nationalist Party) which are now under the coalition Cumhur ittifaki, CHP, Gelecek Partisi (the Future party), the HDP (now DEM or the Kurdish political party) and the IYI partisi (the Good Party).

Voting is being done in 81 provinces, 973 districts, 390 municipalities for 50,336 muhtarlar (village councilman or headman). 61 million people are expected to vote.

The major cities of Adana, Ankara, Istanbul, Hatay, Izmir, Mersin, and Tekirdag are under CHP rule, while Bursa, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Trabzon, Konya, Sanliurfa are under the AKP. The towns of Diyarbakir, Mardin, and Van remain under the HDP.

The CHP was led by Kemal Kilicdaroglu who ran against Erdogan last year in the presidential race, but Kilicdaroglu has left since then, and the party is now led by Özgür Özel. Still, the CHP isn’t in a much better position either after it failed to unite the coalition it tried to form in last year's presidential elections and its own candidates are currently busy butting heads.

Istanbul remains quite valuable for Erdogan, first because it is the city where his grand career began in 1994 and second because of the money it brings in for the country with it being the 'Wall Street' of Turkey. 

Of course, Istanbul is where the money's at and Ankara is the political centerstage, which explains why Erdogan is trying to have the AKP win back what they lost in 2019 to the CHP's Imamoglu in Istanbul, especially now that he's under fire for economic mismanagement of the country's recession.

Sunday’s elections will be a race to gain the upper hand in order to set the rules in the country according to the winner’s own terms - meaning that if the CHP takes the majority, they set the rules.

If Erdogan wins, it's his constitution. But here's a quick head-scratcher for you: If Erdogan's party wins both cities, will he still not run for another term in a few years like he said or do you think that'll make him change his mind?

'Hayırlı olsun' - literally translates to 'may it be good' - or complexly simplified, may the best "abi" win. 

  • Turkey
  • municipal elections
  • Ekrem Imamoglu
  • Murat Kurum
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
2K Palestinian detainees freed, defy occupation with mass welcome

2K Palestinian detainees freed, defy occupation with mass welcome

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
UK blocks release of documents on secretive Lammy-Sa’ar meeting.
Politics

UK blocks release of documents on secret Lammy-Sa’ar meeting

Colombia slams Trump’s drug accusation, defends sovereignty
Politics

Colombia slams Trump’s incendiary drug claims, defends sovereignty

The abuse was detailed in Giuffre's memoir "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice." (AP)
Politics

Epstein victim recounts choking, sexual assault by 'well-known PM'

The US Secret Service discovered a hunting stand near the airport President Donald Trump uses in Florida. (US Secret Service)
Politics

FBI probes hunting stand with sightline to Trump’s Air Force One exit

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS