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Turkey local elections: Setback for Erdogan in big cities | Turkey local elections: Setback for Erdogan in big cities |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The party of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lost control of the capital, Ankara, in local elections, in a blow to his 16-year rule. | The party of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lost control of the capital, Ankara, in local elections, in a blow to his 16-year rule. |
The main opposition is also slightly ahead in the contest for mayor of Istanbul, figures published by the state-run Anadolu news agency suggest. | The main opposition is also slightly ahead in the contest for mayor of Istanbul, figures published by the state-run Anadolu news agency suggest. |
But the president's AKP party is challenging the result in both cities. | But the president's AKP party is challenging the result in both cities. |
Municipal elections were held across the nation on Sunday and an AKP-led alliance won more than 51% of the vote. | Municipal elections were held across the nation on Sunday and an AKP-led alliance won more than 51% of the vote. |
The elections, considered a verdict on Mr Erdogan's rule, have been taking place during an economic downturn. | The elections, considered a verdict on Mr Erdogan's rule, have 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? | What has the ruling party been saying? |
The AKP - or Justice and Development Party - alleges "invalid votes and irregularities in most of the 12,158 polling stations in Ankara". | The AKP - or Justice and Development Party - 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." | 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." |
The AKP says it will also challenge the result in Istanbul - the largest city - and the eastern province of Igdir. | The AKP says it will also challenge the result in Istanbul - the largest city - 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. | 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. | "If there are any shortcomings, it is our duty to correct them," he said. |
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%. | 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%. | 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%. |
Both CHP and the AKP claim victory in Istanbul, which has been in the hands of parties linked to Mr Erdogan since 1994, when he was elected the city's mayor. | Both CHP and the AKP claim victory in Istanbul, which 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. Results carried by Anadolu put the margin even narrower, at less than 0.25%. | 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. Results carried by Anadolu put the margin even narrower, at less than 0.25%. |
The AKP had been saying its candidate, former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, was ahead by 4,000 votes. He later conceded his opponent had a narrow lead, only for the AKP to again claim victory. | The AKP had been saying its candidate, former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, was ahead by 4,000 votes. He later conceded his opponent had a narrow lead, only for the AKP to again claim victory. |
The third largest city, Izmir, went to the CHP. | The third largest city, Izmir, went to the CHP. |
"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. |
Image of invincibility broken | |
Analysis by Mark Lowen, BBC Turkey correspondent | |
Electoral figures show Istanbul falling to the opposition by a whisker, although the ruling party has challenged the result and refused to concede. Ekrem Imamoglu, who's already changed his Twitter profile to "mayor of Istanbul", has vowed to serve all sides - those who voted for and against him - without discrimination. | |
President Erdogan's setbacks deepened elsewhere, losing the capital, Ankara, and several other cities as his conservative voters punished him for an economic crisis. | |
Local elections are important here. Parties build their base at grassroots level; Mr Erdogan himself gained power after being mayor of Istanbul. | |
He turned this poll into, in effect, a referendum on himself. Now his image of invincibility has been broken and an opposition long seen as hopelessly divided has got a new lease of life. Swathes of Turkey still adore Mr Erdogan, but the half of the country that detests its polarising president are starting to believe 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. |
Mr Erdogan, whose two-month campaign included 100 rallies, said the poll was about the "survival" of the country and his party. | Mr Erdogan, whose two-month campaign included 100 rallies, said the poll was about the "survival" of the country and his party. |
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. | 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. |