Turkish President Erdogan suffers shock defeat in Municipal elections; Opposition says, ‘this is only the beginning’

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Reuters, the opposition emerged as a strong political force, with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu solidifying his position as Erdogan's main rival. Imamoglu led by a significant margin in the mayoral race in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, with the Republican People's Party (CHP) also securing victories in Ankara and 15 other cities.

This electoral outcome represents a major setback for Erdogan and the AK Party, signalling a shift in Turkey's political landscape. Erdogan referred to it as a “turning point" in a speech delivered after midnight.

Moreover, this election was widely viewed as a gauge of President Erdogan's popularity as he aimed to regain control of crucial urban regions previously lost to the opposition in elections five years ago. The CHP's previous victories in Ankara and Istanbul in 2019 had significantly diminished Erdogan's perception of invulnerability.

As reported by AP, the main battleground for the 70-year-old Turkish president was Istanbul, a city of 16 million people where he was born and raised and where he began his political career as mayor in 1994. Also Read: Turkey's Erdogan offers to host a peace summit with Russia during a visit from Ukraine's Zelenskyy A strong showing for Erdogan's ruling Islamic-oriented Justice and Development Party, or AKP, would likely harden his resolve to usher in a new constitution — one that would reflect his conservative values and allow him to rule beyond 2028 when his current term ends, AP reported citing analysts.

For the opposition — divided and demoralized after a defeat in last year's presidential and parliamentary elections — keeping Istanbul and Ankara would be a major boost and help remobilize supporters. Some 61 million people, including more than a