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Turkey holds local elections today, a test of Erdogan's popularity

2024-03-31 09:28:47Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Turkey holds local elections today, a test of Erdogan's popularity

Turkey is holding local elections that will decide who will control Istanbul and other key cities. The vote is also a barometer of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's popularity as he seeks to regain control of key urban areas he lost to the opposition five years ago.

The main battlegrounds are the country's economic hub, Istanbul, and the country's capital, Ankara, which Erdogan lost in 2019, shattering his aura of invincibility. The 70-year-old Turkish president has set his sights on reclaiming Istanbul, a city of 16 million people where he was born and raised and where he began his political career as mayor in 1994.

For the opposition, divided and demoralized after a defeat in last year's presidential and parliamentary elections, holding Istanbul and Ankara would be a major boost and help remobilize supporters. About 61 million people, including more than a million first-time voters, are eligible to vote for all metropolitan municipalities, city and district mayors, and neighborhood administrations.

Turnout is traditionally high in Turkey, but this time the vote comes against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis. Observers say disillusioned opposition supporters may choose to stay home, doubting its ability to turn things around.

Supporters of the ruling party, meanwhile, could also choose not to go to the polls in protest at the economic downturn that has left many struggling to pay for food, utilities and rent.

Polls have shown a close race between Istanbul's current mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, of the main opposition, pro-secular Republican People's Party, and AKP candidate Murat Kurum, a former urbanization and environment minister. This time, however, Imamoglu — a popular figure touted as a possible future challenger to Erdogan — is running without the support of some of the parties that helped him win in 2019.


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