Turkey’s main opposition the Republican Party has reclaimed control of main cities of Istanbul and Ankara, with a trend towards secularism.

Although the current Turkish president Mr Erdogan had vowed for a new era in Turkey, the change may come the hands of his own party and the control they have over the entire country.

The megacity of almost 16 million people, and the second largest city and capital, Ankara both secured landslide elections against Erdogan’s AK Party.

The incumbent mayor of Istanbul secured more than 50% of the vote, defeating the president’s AK Party candidate by more than 11 points and almost one million votes.

This was also the first time since President Erdogan came into power 21 years ago that his AK party was defeated across the country at the local elections in major cities across Turkey.

In the capital Ankara, the mayor Mansur Yavas part of the opposition party was so far ahead of his competition that after two thirds of votes were cast he declared victory. Supporters of the mayor blocked all the main roads in the city, waving flags and honking their car horns.

Erdogan’s Opposition

The CHP – the Republican People’s Party is the main opposition party against the AK party.

The CHP also seized control of Turkey’s fourth-biggest city Bursa and Balikesir in the north-west, and retained control of Izmir, Adana and the resort of Antalya.

President Erdogan, who is now 70 years old may have lost touch with the younger generations looking for change in Turkey amidst economic uncertainty n the region.

Erdogan acknowledged the elections had not gone as he had hoped for, but told supporters in Ankara this is “not an end for us but rather a turning point”.

The current president of Turkey has always relied on the “people’s will” to claim his authority. So clearly the although the people’s will had changed he promised supporters he would respect the electorate as he he had before, since this was for the people.

Under Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s presidency has amassed sweeping powers, replacing the prime minister. But in the cities, directly elected mayors still have considerable influence.

During this 2024 election campaign, President Erdogan said this would be his last attempt to gain control, because his presidential term ends in 2028.

His critics believed that if he was victorious that he would have been encouraged to revise the constitution to give him the opportunity to be President again. After such a dramatic defeat the will of the people has spoken and Erdogan would be ill advised to go against the people.

Turkish Political scientist Berk Esen stated that the opposition party, CHP had delivered the “biggest election defeat of Erdogan’s career” and come up with its best results since 1977. this shows a clear sign to a changing direction in the will of the people seeking secular change in Turkey.

The outcome was also a massive success for CHP chairman, Ozgur Ozel, who praised voters for deciding to change the face of Turkey in this historic vote.

“They want to open the door to a new political climate in our country.”

Ozgur Ozel, CHP Chairman

New Face of Turkey

Crowds of CHP supporters in Istanbul gathered outside the town hall in Sarachane, one of Istanbul’s oldest districts after the elections.

The people waved Turkish flags and banners showing Ekrem Imamoglu’s picture alongside Turkey’s founding father Kemal Ataturk.

“I can say that our citizens’ trust and faith in us has been rewarded,” said Mr Imamoglu.

Ekrem Imamoglu and Mansur Yavas are seen as potential candidates to run for the presidency in 2028.

“Everything will be fine,” Imamoglu supporters chanted as they sang and danced in streets of Sarachane.

Istanbul’s incumbent mayor had first used the slogan “Everything will be fine” when he won the city from Mr Erdogan’s party five years ago.

His new slogan for this election “Full speed ahead” was still on some of the banners in Sarachane.

Although they are only local elections the CHP party’s victory all over major cities in Turkey is a significant show of force against the ruling party. It also sets up a showdown between the AK party and CHP party in 2028 to rule Turkey.

“If Imamoglu or Mansur Yavas had been the CHP candidate in last year’s presidential election, they definitely would have won.” Mehmet Bankaci, 27, a young supporter of the CHP Party also told the media there was a need for change in Turkey.

Heart of Turkey

Istanbul is home to a fifth of Turkey’s population of nearly 85 million people, approximately 16 million people. Control the city and you control a significant portion of Turkey’s economy including trade, tourism and finance.

Five years ago, Mr Imamoglu overturned years of AK Party rule in Istanbul with the backing of other opposition parties.

But that opposition unity fell apart in the wake of last year’s presidential election defeat and the AK Party. The AK party had high hopes of overturning the CHP party 2019 victory, to put Turkey back on course.

Ahead of these local nationwide elections, the vote had always been seen as too close to call, with a strong challenge from AK Party candidate Murat Kurum.

However the ruling party has been unable to shake off an economic crisis that has seen inflation rates of 67% and interest rates at 50%.

Political Breakdown by Region

Broad areas of the west, south, and north of Turkey are now under the control of the opposition CHP.

The pro-Kurdish Dem party has won control of much of the south-east of Turkey.

Erdogan’s AK Party continues to dominate central Turkey and had more success in areas of the south-east.

These were areas devastated by the February 2023 double earthquake, including the cities of Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep.

Erdogan’s Legacy

Speaking from the balcony of his party headquarters in Ankara, Erdogan promised to use his potential last four years in office before the next presidential election to “renew ourselves and compensate for our mistakes”.

His supporters chanted back: “Stand still, this nation is with you.”

Erdogan has maintained a legacy in Turkey of relative peace and growth, this is in spite of more pronounced economic instability in the last 5 years.

Under Erdogan’s leadership renewed partnerships with regional players such as Egypt will also potentially bring Turkey more economic growth in the future.

Erdogan’s last four years in office may also see his government working with Iraq to attempt to diffuse the PKK throughout the region.

Only time will tell how much will there is to stat a battle that may not be in the best interest of either Turkey of Iraq.

The elections see a new era on the horizon for Turkey. About 61 million Turks were eligible to take part in Sunday’s election and more than a million young voters were casting their ballots for the first time.

Turnout was estimated at more than 77% across the country’s 81 provinces.