Turkey’s opposition achieves great success in 2019 local elections

Local elections in Turkey were held on March 31, 2019. The elections which took place in a peaceful atmosphere introduced many interesting results. The ruling AK Party and President Erdoğan had to face some undesired consequences to bring serious distress.

The ruling AK Party, which has been controlling a giant city like Istanbul for many years, will have to hand it over to rival CHP following a very tough competition. Likewise, Ankara, the capital of Turkey will be handed over to opposing CHP as well. On the other hand, on top of referred failure, the ruling party also suffered loss of other important towns such as Antalya, Adana, Mersin and Bolu to opposition.

Ekrem IMAMOGLU and Mansur YAVAS have won mayor posts for Istanbul and Ankara the two biggest towns in Turkey. Izmir, the third largest town in Turkey on the other hand has been the city with most powerful CHP influence in Turkey for ages any way. Thus the three major towns in Turkey will now be under control of the opposition.

Looking from an objective point of view unfortunately,  one has to admit that the ruling party used the state’s facilities and power as well as the media power in its own hands to the full extent, in an unfair manner to beat its political rivals.

There is no doubt, in addition to the very bad situation of the economy, the President and his partner MHP leader have been very influential on the people’s preference by using a hostile language towards competition to include heavy insults and slanders which the MHP President has made to the rival alliance.

This election can be considered very crucial as it has been a big blow to the image that Ak Party and Erdogan are invincible. Now eyes are turned to general elections 4-5 years later with the question; “Let’s see how the ruling party will pull itself together to make up for this loss.” We will all live and see.