Erdogan’s AK Party suffers heavy defeat in local elections as Türkiye votes against economic woes

Türkiye’s ruling AK Party loses ground in most provinces in local elections to main opposition party as President Erdogan fails to win back Istanbul, Ankara

Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) suffered heavy losses on Sunday’s local elections, with the main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), leading the results, as Turkish voters protested with their ballots against the country’s economic woes caused due to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s late countermeasures.

With 98.05% of the ballot boxes opened and counted, CHP emerged ahead with 37.61% of the vote nationwide. Erdogan failed to win back Istanbul and Ankara which he had lost back in the 2019 mayoral races to the opposition.

AK Party held on to 35.59% of the vote. Other parties such as the People’s Democratic Party (DEM Party) and the New Welfare Party (YRP) have garnered 5.62% and 6.14% respectively, while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Good Party (IP) have received 4.97% and 3.77%.

Metropolitan areas go to opposition

In addition to nationwide success, the opposition is leading in several major cities, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. The party is also ahead in other significant provinces like Adana, Antalya, and Bursa, according to the latest counts.

The voting process concluded at 5 p.m. local time, with vote counting commencing immediately. As Türkiye continues to tally the votes, the early results suggest a potential shift in the political dynamics.

Source: Newsroom