Not according to a recent briefing by CEFTUS, the UK based Centre for Turkish Studies who reported on 11 July that dissidents within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) are on the brink of forming an alternative party which could deprive the government of its majority in Parliament.
Continue reading After Istanbul will it be business as usual?
Voters in Istanbul have dealt a stunning blow to the prestige of President Erdoğan and a landmark victory for democracy in the landslide win for the opposition coalition candidate from the Republican People’s party (CHP), Ekrem İmamoğlu, who for the second time was elected Mayor of Istanbul over the former prime minister Binali Yıldırım, the candidate of the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP).
Continue reading Erdoğan loses rerun of Istanbul Mayor election
Fury at the loss of the Istanbul mayoral race to Ekrem İmamoğlu, from the opposition CHP (Republican People’s Party) in the local elections on 31 March (reported in my blog Erdoğan faces his moment of truth by challenging the results (11 April 2019) President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has secured a rerun of the election for Istanbul mayor on 23 June. His ruling party refused to accept the result claiming that there were ‘irregularities and corruption’ in the vote. Under extreme pressure Turkey’s ruling electoral body, the higher election board (YSK) agreed, provoking anger in Turkey, especially in Istanbul and there are reports that there are even concerns at the decision by some within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) which could have future political implications. However they did not order a rerun of votes for district administrators, mayors, and municipal councils in the city.