The local elections in Turkey, a test for President Erdogan and the opposition

2024-03-31 15:54:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

About 61 million residents in Turkey with the right to vote will choose new local leaders for the next 5 years, while the main battleground is Istanbul and the country's capital, Ankara. The fake president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, wants to regain control in these two economic centers, while the elections are also a barometer for his popularity. On the other hand, the fate of the opposition and the main candidate, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is widely seen as a future political opponent of Mr. Erdogan, is at stake.

Turks voted on Sunday in local elections focused on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's bid to regain control of Istanbul from his political rival Ekrem Imamoglu, who aims to restore the ruling opposition after defeat in last year's election.

Sunday's vote will also be a barometer of the Turkish president's popularity. The main focus during the campaign has been the battle for Istanbul and the country's capital, Ankara, which Mr Erdogan's party lost in 2019.

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.

"These elections will lead to the beginning of a new era in our country. I hope that the parliamentary and presidential elections of May of last year on the one hand and the local government elections on the other hand, will lead to the beginning of a new era and a new century for our country", said Mr. Erdogan after casting his vote. his in Istanbul, a city of 16 million inhabitants where he was born and raised and where he began his political career as mayor in 1994.

"I believe that we have completed a very important period in Istanbul. As I said before, I hope that we, together with our 16 million people, will forgive each other for our differences after the results of this election. We hope that if we win again, we will continue to offer the best to our city in the next 5 years", declared Ekrem Imamoglu, the current mayor of Istanbul and the opposition candidate.

About 61 million people, including more than a million first-time voters, are eligible to vote in this election. Turnout is traditionally high in Turkey, but this time the vote comes against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis.

Analysts say disillusioned opposition supporters may choose to stay home, doubting the election will change things. Supporters of the ruling party, meanwhile, may 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.

"It doesn't matter who wins, but to be a worker. A hardworking man must be elected. We love hardworking people", says a resident of Istanbul.

Polls have shown a close race between Istanbul's current mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition candidate, and the candidate of President Erdogan's party, Murat Kurum, a former minister of urbanization and environment.

In this election, the opposition candidate for Istanbul does not have the support of some of the parties that helped him win in 2019, including pro-Kurdish parties.

In Ankara, polls show current mayor Mansur Yavas, also seen as a possible future challenger to Mr. Erdogan, is expected to retain his post./ VOA