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Turkey local elections: Setback for Erdogan in big cities | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The party of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lost control of the capital, Ankara, in local elections in a setback after 16 years in power. | |
The opposition is also ahead in the contest for mayor of the largest city, Istanbul, the election commission says. | The opposition is also ahead in the contest for mayor of the largest city, Istanbul, the election commission says. |
Nationally, the president's AKP-led alliance has won more than 51% of the vote in the municipal elections. | Nationally, the president's AKP-led alliance has won more than 51% of the vote in the municipal elections. |
But the AKP is challenging the results in the capital and Istanbul - seen as the greatest electoral prize. | |
The vote, considered a verdict on Mr Erdogan's rule, has been taking place during an economic downturn. | |
The currency, the lira, has been losing value recently and the economy went into recession in the last three months of 2018. | The currency, the lira, has been losing value recently and the economy went into recession in the last three months of 2018. |
What has the ruling party been saying? | |
The AKP alleges "invalid votes and irregularities in most of the 12,158 polling stations in Ankara". | |
Its general secretary, Fatih Sahin, said on Twitter: "We will use our legal rights to the fullest, and we will not allow the will of our citizens to be altered in Ankara." | |
State-run Anadolu news agency says the AKP is also expected to challenge the result in Istanbul and the eastern province of Igdir. | |
Commenting on the results in a speech on Sunday, Mr Erdogan looked ahead to national elections in 2023: "We have a long period ahead where we will carry out economic reforms without compromising on the rules of the free-market economy." | |
"If there are any shortcomings, it is our duty to correct them," he said. | |
He had previously said the poll was about the "survival" of the country and his party. | |
What are the results? | What are the results? |
More than 57 million people in the country were registered to vote for mayors and councillors. Turnout was high at just under 85%. | |
The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Mansur Yavas won in Ankara, officials said. With almost all votes counted, he was on nearly 51% and the AKP's Mehmet Ozhaseki had won the support of just over 47%. | |
Istanbul has been in the hands of parties linked to Mr Erdogan since 1994 when he was elected the city's mayor. | Istanbul has been in the hands of parties linked to Mr Erdogan since 1994 when he was elected the city's mayor. |
The election commission said the CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu was leading there by less than 0.5%, but that the results of more than 80 ballot boxes were being challenged. | |
Both CHP and Mr Erdogan's AKP - or Justice and Development Party - claim victory in the city. | |
The AKP had been saying its candidate, former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, was ahead by 4,000 votes. | |
The CHP also said it had held Izmir, Turkey's third largest city. | The CHP also said it had held Izmir, Turkey's third largest city. |
What has the reaction been? | What has the reaction been? |
"The people have voted in favour of democracy. They have chosen democracy," CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said. | "The people have voted in favour of democracy. They have chosen democracy," CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said. |
Prominent journalist Rusen Cakir said the vote was "as historic as that of 1994", referring to the year Mr Erdogan was elected Istanbul mayor. | |
"It is a declaration that a page that was opened 25 years ago is being turned," he said. | "It is a declaration that a page that was opened 25 years ago is being turned," he said. |
'Agonising blow' | 'Agonising blow' |
Analysis by Mark Lowen, BBC Turkey Correspondent | Analysis by Mark Lowen, BBC Turkey Correspondent |
President Erdogan had painted this election as a matter of survival. He's now been dealt an agonising blow. | President Erdogan had painted this election as a matter of survival. He's now been dealt an agonising blow. |
For the first time in a quarter of a century, his party has lost Ankara. | For the first time in a quarter of a century, his party has lost Ankara. |
And in the economic powerhouse of Istanbul, there's a hair's breadth between the governing AK Party and the opposition. | And in the economic powerhouse of Istanbul, there's a hair's breadth between the governing AK Party and the opposition. |
As the official tally showed fewer than 3,000 votes between them in this city of 18 million, both said they'd won. | As the official tally showed fewer than 3,000 votes between them in this city of 18 million, both said they'd won. |
But then the count stopped, with more than 1% of ballot boxes still unopened: a tactic, says the opposition, to steal victory. | But then the count stopped, with more than 1% of ballot boxes still unopened: a tactic, says the opposition, to steal victory. |
This could be a watershed moment for Turkey's powerful, polarising president: when an opposition long seen as moribund finally feels he's beatable. | This could be a watershed moment for Turkey's powerful, polarising president: when an opposition long seen as moribund finally feels he's beatable. |
How was the campaign? | How was the campaign? |
This was the first municipal vote since Mr Erdogan assumed sweeping executive powers through last year's presidential election. | This was the first municipal vote since Mr Erdogan assumed sweeping executive powers through last year's presidential election. |
The AKP, with its roots in political Islam, has won every election since coming to power in 2002. | The AKP, with its roots in political Islam, has won every election since coming to power in 2002. |
With most media either pro-government or controlled by Mr Erdogan's supporters, critics believe opposition parties campaigned at a disadvantage. Mr Erdogan's rallies dominated TV coverage. | |
The opposition pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said the elections were unfair and refused to put forward candidates in several cities. | The opposition pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said the elections were unfair and refused to put forward candidates in several cities. |
Some of its leaders have been jailed on terrorism charges, accusations they reject. | Some of its leaders have been jailed on terrorism charges, accusations they reject. |