Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan meet in Sochi, Russia November 22, 2017. (photo credit: SPUTNIK/MIKHAIL METZEL/KREMLIN VIA REUTERS) The Three Amigos
Posted on 03/31/2019 6:33:30 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party on Sunday was facing defeat in local elections in the Turkish capital, Ankara, and possibly even Istanbul, its largest city, a result that shook the nation as Mr. Erdogan suffered the first major electoral setback of his decade and a half in power.
The municipal balloting around the country came nine months after national elections that extended Mr. Erdogan’s hold on power. It was closely watched as a barometer of his standing with voters after Turkey’s economy fell into recession and he assumed sweeping new executive powers.
Mr. Erdogan claimed victory over all in the elections, pointing to results that showed his Justice and Development Party 15 points ahead of the opposition Republican People’s Party in districts nationwide.
But for the first time in his political career, Mr. Erdogan was tasting defeat in mayoral races in the center of Turkish political power, Ankara, and maybe even in his hometown, Istanbul, the country’s business center.
“Please do not be heartbroken with this result,” he told supporters in an address. “We will see how they are going to administer.”
All eyes were on the race for mayor of Istanbul. Mr. Erdogan’s candidate, former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, was reported to be in a virtual tie with the opposition candidate, Ekrem Imamoglu. Mr. Imamoglu said he had in fact won by a substantial margin.
Rusen Cakir, a veteran commentator, said on Twitter that the turnaround was as historic as Mr. Erdogan’s arrival on the political stage, when, as an Islamist and former political prisoner, he first won the mayorship of Istanbul.
“The election today is as historic as the local election in 1994,” Mr. Cakir said. “It’s the announcement of a page that was opened 25 years ago and is now being closed.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
CHP (Kemalists) might just make a resurgence.
There is not that much difference in the 2 parties, except the Islamist factor for Erdogan. The Kemalists said they were secular from the beginning.
Let's see where this goes. Should be interesting.
It means nothing.
Have Cook and Broward counties filed their returns yet?
What?
I thought Erdogan was the great anti-Trump...
No, they are still counting.
We shall see.
Yes, he said that and meant it.
Erdooooo is collapsing the Turk economy.
And the natives are restless.
The big cities, which are more cosmopolitan, probably don’t care for Erdogan, but in the rural areas, he gets a lot of support.
Yes, I think you may be right.
The Kemalist despised the likes of Erdogan. Erdogan pulled the faux coup and crippled the Kemalists.
They are not to be taken lightly. Even now.
People will die
“Erdooooo is collapsing the Turk economy.”
He rushed through the last elections nine months ago, to consolidate his power, specifically because they knew the economy was heading over the cliff. They wanted to get re-elected before people felt the real pain.
Well now the real economic pain is spreading, and it is unlikely to get better for the common folks anytime soon.
“It means nothing.”
Those cities are full of Eurotrash wannabes. Erdogan’s support has ALWAYS come from the countryside. This is nothing new.
They’re still counting chads.
They may be actually hanging Chads.........
It'll only mean something if Erdogan gets capped soon.
Why doesn’t someone just take him out already?
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan meet in Sochi, Russia November 22, 2017. (photo credit: SPUTNIK/MIKHAIL METZEL/KREMLIN VIA REUTERS) The Three Amigos
Boris Heads To Istanbul To Trace His Political Past | Who Do You Think You Are
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