Turkey local elections: Setback for Erdogan in big cities - BBC News

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.

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.

[cagdasbilir]

Not only Ankara, they lost 7 of top 10 municipalities. Ankara and all other largest port cities. They lost the wealthiest metropolitan areas.

[johnpijano]

Hopefully a step to return Turkey back to path of Ataturk's legacy.

[shinyoac]

ATATURK'S CHILDREN HAS WOKEN UP. ATATURK IS THE FATHER OF TURKEY, TURKS! MAY GOD BLESS TURKS

[sumeyyeselcuk]

Pakistani people you can have erdogan if you love him so much we are done with him

[amirkakia]

Well done Turkey, back to secularism again. Love from Iran

[EdmondDantes]

Beginning of the fall of the AKP goverment

[Pasaoglu]

I've been reading all the comments related to local elections in my country for half an hour and what I find quite disturbing and surprising is why the hell those foreigners ( mainly Pakistanis and Arabs who probably has even never been in my country ) are too much involved with the election results ? You guys have turkish passport or what ? None of you has rights to be involved in our own political views, problems etc. You must mind your business with your own countries. Not with ours. Because the answer is short and simple " This is not your country " ✋ . And thanks for those who congratulate us. Greetings from Ankara 👏👍☺

[omarsabih]

Congrats Kankas. Do not give in. Never stop fighting back against the forces of darkness. Love from Bangladesh.

[cansusengun]

Why doesn't anybody talk about Ekrem Imamoglu, he won? You should stop to talk about Erdogan.

[loverboysalman]

We Supported our Turk Brothers even before there was Erdogan, now we will support u even after Erdogan .
🇵🇰🇹🇷

[tamilly]

Yasa Mustafa Kemal Pasha, Yasa, ve CHP!

[jonbozon]

ROCK ON TURKEY and Much Respect to CHP!

[rodelle-run]

There is hope for turkey, I am impressed.
People are having a hard time paying bills and he promises an empire on European credit cards.

[onurvx]

This was only the beginning we will enjoy an even bigger victory in 2023, the 100th year anniversary of Turkey!

[hosnyshakur]

İ'm only here in Turkey for just 4 months and İ realized that Turkish people have a different mindset .

İ mean, the society is not very radical with the religion issue. Regardless of who will be elected , İ wish them ever lasting peace and unity .

[nilperiii]

bye bye erdogann you will be gone in 2023

[sardar]

We support what Turkish people support. Love from Pakistan.

[bayx]

This a little step. We will see big step a 4 year after.

Loves From Turkey!

...And sadder and graver than all these circumstances, those who hold power within the country may be in error, misguided and may even be traitors. Furthermore, they may indentify their personal interests with the political designs of the invaders. The country may be impoverished, ruined and exhausted.
Youth of turkey’s future,

Even in such circumstances it is your duty to save the Turkish Independence and Republic.

You will find the strength you need in your noble blood.

-Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

[phoenixbird]

Welcome back to reason and secularism Turkey... Love from Morocco

[semprefidelis]

As a Turkish, let me explain what really happened in elections. The voters of Erdogan (AKP) decided not to vote or small portion of them voted for CHP (secular democratic party) These are people who would never vote for a secular democratic party (their ears only hear islamic propaganda) but had no other choice but choose not to vote or choose CHP. Because, economy is really a shithole right now. Inflation went up at least 80% 60% of people live under poverty line. They can`t afford even potato, onions, tomatos, which are supposed to be the cheapest thing to live - forget meat, Turks forgot to eat meat long time ago due to prices. So, it is the economy that changed these people`s views. Stomach hunger came before their religion...finally. And economy is a shithole because....see 1000+ palace, 400+ vacation palace, $400mil airplane, another $500 mil airplane ("gift" fro Qatar) and $2 bn dollar "hidden payments" / ortulu odenek to Erdogan.