In a significant shift in Turkey's political landscape, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling AK Party faced a historic defeat in the nationwide local elections, with 54% of the vote counted. The main opposition, led by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and the Republican People's Party (CHP), secured major victories across the country, including in key cities like Istanbul and Ankara. The AK Party received 36% of the vote nationwide, a sharp decline from 44% in 2019, marking Erdogan's most severe electoral setback in over two decades amid challenges such as rampant inflation and high borrowing costs. The results not only reassert the opposition as a formidable political force but also solidify Imamoglu's status as Erdogan's chief rival. Celebrations by opposition supporters and significant gains in urban areas underscore the magnitude of this political upheaval.
A resurgence of Turkey’s main opposition party in local elections is sure to reshape national politics. The scale of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s losses in Istanbul and elsewhere means that his appetite for constitutional changes may now be diminished https://t.co/9DrUNHD4wx 👇
Turkey's Erdogan suffers 'historic' crushing blow in 'severest election defeat' in decades https://t.co/7hNIHOx8h5
Erdoğan Suffers Major Blow as Turkish Cities Vote for Opposition Party Mayors https://t.co/dXbWybaUJ0
Turkish opposition candidates and voters on Monday celebrated inflicting a stinging defeat on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party in municipal elections. https://t.co/4hkTn7MmnL
Biggest defeat for Erdogan in 2 decades -- Turkey’s resurgent opposition thumps Erdogan in pivotal local elections https://t.co/VfwxoWy6eE via @rapplerdotcom
#Turkey was at a "turning point, President #RecepTayyipErdogan said after the opposition fighting his two-decade rule swept municipal elections in #Istanbul More details here: https://t.co/oH2VPsVUII https://t.co/TOublkMB4E
Opposition supporters in Turkey celebrated into the night after Sunday's local elections dealt a significant blow to President Erdogan's ruling AKP party. https://t.co/CzKnBJxwkK
"Turks dealt President Tayyip Erdogan and his party their biggest electoral blow on Sunday in a nationwide local vote that reasserted the opposition as a political force and reinforced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as the president's chief rival." https://t.co/G0Vmovsc6p
Turkish opposition candidates and voters were celebrating after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party suffered a stinging defeat in municipal elections at the hands of the centre-left CHP party https://t.co/wH55JIAMBp
Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has dealt the biggest blow in two decades to President Erdogan’s AK Party by winning control of major cities in local elections. Ekrem Imamoglu secured a second term as Istanbul’s mayor ⤵️ https://t.co/fjgsLzuEYg
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suffered a stinging defeat against the main opposition party in municipal elections March 31. Here's what you need to know https://t.co/KTjhjxjqsI
Turkey’s main opposition party claims victory over incumbent Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan and his AK Party, on Sunday, March 31, in a nationwide local vote. Full story: https://t.co/RJ9qV6dDrh https://t.co/21qxEVNp8A
Turkey's Erdogan handed historic setback in local elections By @ezgi_akin https://t.co/Y4j4RmH8Sr
🔴 Erdogan’s party suffers biggest election upset in more than 20 years https://t.co/Arno6sGTuo
Turkey's Erdogan suffers worst electoral defeat in two decades Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/qvzwfMYLOQ
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu secures his status as the top opponent to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan https://t.co/KENqx6uqeg
Turkey's ruling party faces defeat in landmark municipal elections In a historic turn of events, Turkey's ruling party, led by President Erdogan, suffered a significant defeat in municipal elections, marking the first such loss in 20 years, according to Reuters.… https://t.co/vfzYeMmHnc
With nearly 100% of ballots counted, Turkey's opposition CHP appears to have emerged victorious in local elections in several cities, including Istanbul and Ankara. If confirmed, the result would be a major setback for President Erdogan and his AK party. https://t.co/n6apJHpV0g
#WATCH | #Turkey President #RecepTayyipErdogan has suffered a huge blow with his party facing its most humiliating election defeat in around 2 decades. https://t.co/KqvDQ8EczQ
Turks delivered a significant blow to President Tayyip Erdogan in nationwide local elections, solidifying Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as his chief rival https://t.co/12kYVvzBYr https://t.co/p9GzLJavMd
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suffered a shock defeat at the ballot box against the main opposition party, amid rampant inflation and the highest borrowing costs since he swept to power more than two decades ago. https://t.co/JLuFLADEC3
Opposition supporters on Sunday filled an Istanbul square to celebrate the re-election of Ekrem Imamoglu as mayor, who dealt a second blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party by repeating his landmark 2019 win. https://t.co/ZgmypHEjjq
Turkish opposition leader and Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu thumps Erdogan in local elections on Sunday. Read more>> https://t.co/8IHu7EzlZ9
Turkey’s Erdogan suffers setback after opposition sees massive gains in urban areas https://t.co/IRi8e5xzJ4
"Turks punished President Tayyip Erdogan and his party on Sunday in nationwide local elections that reasserted the opposition as a political force and reinforced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as the president's chief future rival." https://t.co/9XORzfusJf
A few thoughts on Turkey's local elections, as almost two-thirds of ballots are opened. - The ruling AK Party received its most stinging defeat -- 36% nationwide (compared with 44% in 2019). More importantly, it lost a host of major cities and provinces to opposition.
There's a major political upheaval happening in Turkey. With 54% of the vote counted in local elections, Erdoğan's AKP is heading towards a significant national defeat for the first time ever. If these results hold, it could seriously undermine Erdoğan's legitimacy, leaving… https://t.co/d9iuhSw6dl