CHP strongest force

Opposition leads in local elections for the time being

CHP supporters celebrate their candidate Mansur Yavas(Bild: AFP)

The party of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lost the mayoral election in the important metropolis of Istanbul. The opposition party CHP is the strongest force.

Erdogan's party has suffered a heavy defeat in the local elections in Turkey. The Islamic-conservative AKP suffered heavy losses across the country.

"A turning point, not the end"
Erdogan conceded the opposition's historic victory. "We did not achieve the result we wanted and hoped for," he said late on Sunday evening in Ankara. He would "respect the nation's decision" and would now exercise self-criticism and rectify shortcomings, he explained to his - unusually quiet - supporters. This was not the end, however, but a turning point.

Erdogan supporters(Bild: AFP)

Opposition party CHP strongest force
In the five largest cities, the largest opposition party CHP won the mayoral elections. According to preliminary results, the center-left party won 35 of the 81 mayoral posts nationwide, said the head of the election authority, Ahmet Yener. An official final result was still pending.

61 million people were called to vote
After almost 98 percent of the country's ballot boxes had been counted, the Islamic-conservative AKP suffered its worst election debacle in two decades. According to preliminary figures, the center-left CHP party became the strongest force nationwide with 37.6 percent, the state news agency Anadolu reported after more than 98 percent of votes had been counted. The AKP came in with 35.7 percent. If the result is officially confirmed, the AKP would only be the second strongest party in a local election for the first time since its foundation in 2002. The final results are expected to be announced in the course of Monday. Around 61 million people were called to vote. However, voter turnout was lower than in previous local elections: It has ranged between 78.1 and 80.7 percent.

CHP candidate Mansur Yavas(Bild: AFP)

Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu(Bild: AFP)

Supporters of Mansur Yavas(Bild: AFP)

CHP supporters celebrate their candidate Mansur Yavas(Bild: AFP)

Election workers counting the votes(Bild: AFP)

Polling station in Istanbul(Bild: AP)

Long ballot paper in Istanbul(Bild: AFP)

Election overshadowed by deadly clashes
Deadly incidents overshadowed the local elections in the south-east of the country. Two people were killed in violent clashes. At least 15 other people were injured, including in the Kurdish metropolis of Diyarbakir. Those involved are said to have attacked each other with firearms, stones and sticks.

Young people want to leave the country
The nationwide election was held under difficult circumstances. Many people are struggling with rising food prices and exploding rents due to high inflation. According to a survey, many young people already want to leave the country. The opposition, which ran as an alliance in the 2023 parliamentary and presidential elections, is considered to be divided and is no longer running as a united front.