The Opposition In Turkey Has Stunned President Erdogan With A Historic Victory
The opposition in Turkey has stunned President Erdogan with a historic victory. Ekrem Imamoglu scored big victories for the secular opposition CHP party in the cities of Istanbul and Ankara. This was also the first time since Mr Erdogan came to power 21 years ago that his party was defeated across the country at the ballot box.
In the capital Ankara, opposition mayor Mansur Yavas was so far ahead of his rival on 59% that he declared victory when less than half the votes were in. Supporters blocked all the main roads in the city. The CHP is also on course to win in many of Turkey’s other big cities. They include Izmir, Bursa, Adana and the resort of Antalya.
President Erdogan acknowledged the election had not gone as he had hoped. But he said it would mark “not an end for us but rather a turning point.” In all, the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, won the municipalities of 36 of Turkey’s 81 provinces.
It gained 37% of the votes nationwide, compared to 36% for the Erdogan’s party, marking the CHP’s greatest electoral victory since Erdogan came to power two decades ago. These are positive developments from a nation that has otherwise been mainly on he wrong side of history.
Turkey is one of the fiercest opponents of Israel. While they did not ludicrously take Israel to court over the false accusation of genocide like South Africa did, Erdogan has called Hamas a “liberation group.” Even if the opposition CHP get’s into power nationally, it is not clear that Turkey’s horrendous policy towards Israel will change. But it will be interesting to see if Erdogan voluntarily gives up power, should that happen.
The opposition in Turkey has stunned President Erdogan with a historic victory. Is this a sign of a broad shift in Turkey’s politics? Will there be more secularization and more women’s rights in Turkey? Only time will tell.
