Turkey's New Era? In A Major Blow To Erdogan's Party, Opposition Secures Historic Victory In Local Elections

In a surprising turn of events, Turkey's opposition secured a significant victory in the country's local elections on Sunday (31 March), dealing a severe blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The defeat marks the largest setback for the AKP in over two decades, sparking speculation about the country's political future.

The center-left Republican People's Party (CHP), led by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, emerged triumphant, clinching the megacity of Istanbul by over 1 million votes.

The CHP won near 38 per cent support nationwide, more than two points ahead of the AKP.

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Imamoglu addressed thousands of supporters, emphasizing the message sent by the electorate and signaling a potential shift in Turkey's political landscape.

“The period of one-person rule has ended as of today,” Imamoglu, 53, told thousands of jubilant supporters after the victory.

Meanwhile, Erdogan acknowledged his party's defeat, conceding that they had "lost altitude" and promising to address their shortcomings, reported CNBC.

“If we made a mistake, we will fix it,” he told crowds gathered at AKP headquarters in Ankara, without indicating what changes he might make within his party or in policy.

Analysts also speculate that Imamoglu's success in Istanbul could position him as a frontrunner for the Turkish presidency in 2028, echoing Erdogan's own rise to prominence from mayor of Istanbul to president.

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