In a significant political shift, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party faced a major setback in the local elections, with major cities voting for opposition party mayors. This electoral outcome has been described as Erdogan's severest defeat in decades, marking a repudiation of his autocratic rule in what has been called a 'tsunami' of opposition support, their best showing since the late 1970s. Observers have noted that this result could signal the end of Erdogan's push for constitutional changes aimed at extending his rule. The opposition's victory, particularly in Istanbul under Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, has been hailed as a resurgence of democracy in Turkey, with some calling it a 'historic victory'. The elections have also exposed Erdogan to new challenges, including a potential threat from an Islamist ally-turned-rival. Analysts suggest that Erdogan's economic mismanagement, highlighted by sky-high inflation and the collapse of the lira, contributed significantly to his party's poor performance. The results have prompted discussions on the future of Erdogan's political ambitions and the broader implications for Turkish democracy and policy trajectory, with concerns about Erdogan facing a tough time in the 2028 vote.
"Sunday's defeat hardly bodes well for some of Erdogan's post-election ambitions, particularly his push for a new constitution that his critics argue will further enhance his authoritarian rule," @ezgi_akin writes https://t.co/RVlmHilxY2
President Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party suffered major defeats in Turkey’s local elections held on Sunday. Erin O’Brien joined the WarCast to discuss what the elections could mean for the country moving forward. https://t.co/yeOPq7iqxO
Turkey’s President Erdogan at a “total impasse” after the Sunday’s local elections, political commentator @KadriGursel tells @amberinzaman Don't miss Amberin's latest podcast: https://t.co/Q1ftAjefky
Turkey’s President Erdogan at a “total impasse” after the Sunday’s local elections, political commentator @KadriGursel tells @amberinzaman Don't miss Amberin's new podcast: https://t.co/Q1ftAjefky
PODCAST 🎙️🔊 What path lies ahead for Turkey after Erdogan's stunning local election defeat? Commentator Kadri Gursel @KadriGursel explains with @AmberinZaman, On the Middle East https://t.co/HARagojo10
How could the results of #Turkey's local elections affect Erdogan's policy trajectory? @SonerCagaptay argued that the outcome could have significant ramifications nationwide. https://t.co/n23zMS9tt5 https://t.co/lvLwMiYQZM
.@SonerCagaptay unpacks the results of #Turkey's local elections, their impact on Erdogan, and more. ⤵️ https://t.co/lvLwMiYQZM
#Turkey's Erdogan handed historic setback in local #elections “The dynamics of local elections are quite different from those of general elections,” @berkesen says By @ezgi_akin https://t.co/UUZPh0RZrH
President Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party suffered major defeats across Turkey to the primary opposition party, the Republican People’s Party, in local elections held on Sunday. Erin O'Brien (@e_h_obrien) joined the WarCast to tell us more. https://t.co/yeOPq7iqxO
The opposition's surprise landslide win in Turkish local elections on Sunday has given President Recep Tayyip Erdogan four years to sort out the economy or face his party losing power in the next presidential and parliamentary races. https://t.co/3cw8Z8mybj
"Ekrem Imamoglu, the incumbent CHP mayor of Istanbul,” cast “his success as a sign of how opposition parties and voters can push back against electoral autocracies of the sort erected by Erdogan in the latter years of his rule." https://t.co/F4Ab5ZmbnL
An important outcome of Turkey’s local elections was the emergence of @imamoglu_int, Istanbul’s CHP mayor, as the natural leader of the country’s political opposition, argues @sinanulgen1. https://t.co/6Pf5631Nmd
The election Sunday “marks the end of democratic erosion in Turkey and the resurgence of democracy,” said Istanbul's victorious mayor. “People oppressed under authoritarian regimes now turn their gaze to Istanbul." https://t.co/5ls6dVYRL9
Local-election results in Turkey have surprised even pollsters and pundits—and given President Recep Tayyip Erdogan much to worry about, @p_zalewski tells “The Intelligence” https://t.co/B3rJlU3IQ5 https://t.co/Bz3eqfSUcM
The shock and frustration in the gov’t circles in Turkey’s Ankara was palpable after the election defeat. What’s next for Erdogan? Will Erdogan sack the top brass within the party? Does he have energy to make a grand change? Read my take below 👇🏽 🔗 https://t.co/Ldh28z3sx2 https://t.co/d6xlETFd7b
Erdogan's local election drubbing points to tough time at 2028 vote https://t.co/YBZpLVTXPu
#TurkeyWatch🇹🇷: Pres. Erdogan’s economic mismanagement, the collapse of the lira, and SKY-HIGH inflation, resulted in the TROUNCING of Erdogan & his AK Party at the ballot box. https://t.co/j82gFA8ByI
"It’s a dangerous moment for Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan," @AsliAydintasbas writes. "He has ruled comfortably for more than 20 years, with his political opponents squabbling and in disarray. But things are clearly changing." https://t.co/njtin6dWdD
#HTEditorial | "The Opposition in #Turkey is back in the game, winning a majority of provinces in the local body polls" #HTPremium https://t.co/DS9t5y0zBL
PODCAST: What do Turkey's nationwide local elections on Sunday augur for president Erdogan and for Middle East politics more broadly? https://t.co/dE00zRGgwn
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 👇
"Sunday's defeat hardly bodes well for some of Erdogan's post-election ambitions, particularly his push for a new constitution that his critics argue will further enhance his authoritarian rule" By @ezgi_akin https://t.co/SRpf09rTow
#ExpressExplained | Turkey’s opposition scores ‘historic victory’ against President Erdogan’s party in local elections: What happened? @alindchauhan https://t.co/BTJ9aHvSYp
What’s next for President Erdogan after he suffered a stinging defeat in Turkey’s local elections? https://t.co/vBmoyjlBoT https://t.co/EBaoe5wo3d
Last Sunday’s local elections were a significant blow to #Turkey’s President #Erdogan. Is this a turning of the tide for Turkish democracy? https://t.co/fkUOcLHRDG’s-local-elections-disappoint-president-erdogan-210352
Turkey's President Erdogan faces a new headache from an Islamist ally-turned-rival after a shock defeat in local elections https://t.co/P0TsGTbPOi
Turkey's Erdogan suffers 'historic' crushing blow in 'severest election defeat' in decades https://t.co/7hNIHOx8h5
Erdogan is down after his party's defeat in Turkey election, but don't count him out or a return of liberal democracy in, @MarcChampion1 writes https://t.co/JFyV1asoEb via @opinion
Turkey's Erdogan loses his aura of invincibility https://t.co/QNpOEV3nPz
Erdogan had wanted "a new constitution, probably designed to give him at least another term." The scale of his party's losses "means that his appetite for such changes, which would need to be put to a referendum, may now be diminished or gone altogether." https://t.co/beH8VWgV2L
Erdogan is down after his party's defeat in #Turkeyelection, but don't count him out or a return of liberal democracy in, @MarcChampion1 writes https://t.co/LSTNMc4d5S via @opinion
Analysis by Ishaan Tharoor: “People oppressed under authoritarian regimes now turn their gaze to Istanbul,” said Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul mayor and a strong challenger to Erdogan, after local elections delivered the Turkish president a stunning rebuke. https://t.co/iVNPUPtknl
There is no sugar-coating the repudiation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's autocratic rule as he "suffers an electoral disaster." In a "tsunami," the opposition made "its best showing in any election, local or general, since the late 1970s." https://t.co/beH8VWgV2L
Erdoğan Suffers Major Blow as Turkish Cities Vote for Opposition Party Mayors https://t.co/dXbWybaUJ0