This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/23/erdogan-faces-scrutiny-once-more-as-istanbul-goes-back-to-the-polls

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Erdoğan faces scrutiny once more as Istanbul goes back to the polls Erdoğan faces scrutiny once more as Istanbul goes back to the polls
(30 minutes later)
Millions of people across Istanbul have returned to the polls for the rerun of a mayoral vote that is likely to have dramatic consequences for the future of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development party (AKP).Millions of people across Istanbul have returned to the polls for the rerun of a mayoral vote that is likely to have dramatic consequences for the future of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development party (AKP).
The Opposition Republican People’s party (CHP) candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu, stunned the country after his narrow win in local elections on 31 March, a rare defeat and personal blow to Erdoğan in his hometown.The Opposition Republican People’s party (CHP) candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu, stunned the country after his narrow win in local elections on 31 March, a rare defeat and personal blow to Erdoğan in his hometown.
However, after weeks of appeals by the AKP, Turkey’s electoral board upheld one of the ruling party’s complaints regarding ballot counting and annulled İmamoğlu’s victory – a decision that sparked international outrage.However, after weeks of appeals by the AKP, Turkey’s electoral board upheld one of the ruling party’s complaints regarding ballot counting and annulled İmamoğlu’s victory – a decision that sparked international outrage.
On Sunday, at least 10 million people were eligible to vote in the rerun, which has come to be seen as both a test for Turkey’s fragile democratic standards and Erdoĝan’s political future.On Sunday, at least 10 million people were eligible to vote in the rerun, which has come to be seen as both a test for Turkey’s fragile democratic standards and Erdoĝan’s political future.
“I’m not happy I’ve had to come vote again,” said Aysun Coç, 53. “İmamoğlu will win again with an even bigger margin this time. So what – they will make us do another vote next month? The government will have to accept the result this time. If they don’t, we are ready to protest in a big way.”“I’m not happy I’ve had to come vote again,” said Aysun Coç, 53. “İmamoğlu will win again with an even bigger margin this time. So what – they will make us do another vote next month? The government will have to accept the result this time. If they don’t, we are ready to protest in a big way.”
AKP’s candidate for mayor, the former prime minister Binali Yıldırım, has worked hard to close the gap of 13,000 votes, reach out to the party’s base in working-class and conservative neighbourhoods who punished the government for Turkey’s economic crisis by staying away from the voting booth in March.AKP’s candidate for mayor, the former prime minister Binali Yıldırım, has worked hard to close the gap of 13,000 votes, reach out to the party’s base in working-class and conservative neighbourhoods who punished the government for Turkey’s economic crisis by staying away from the voting booth in March.
However, two days before the vote, most reliable polls showed that İmamoğlu’s lead over his rival has widened to 8-9%. However, two days before the vote, most reliable polls showed that İmamoğlu’s lead over his rival had widened to 8-9%.
The previously anonymous local administrator was welcomed by voters across the city in March for a platform that focused on bringing people together across the city’s highly polarised religious, class and ethnic divides.The previously anonymous local administrator was welcomed by voters across the city in March for a platform that focused on bringing people together across the city’s highly polarised religious, class and ethnic divides.
He has painted his new campaign as a battle for the future of Turkish democracy itself. “Today our people will make the best decision … for the sake of our democracy, for Istanbul and also for the legitimacy of all future elections,” he told reporters after voting on Sunday morning.He has painted his new campaign as a battle for the future of Turkish democracy itself. “Today our people will make the best decision … for the sake of our democracy, for Istanbul and also for the legitimacy of all future elections,” he told reporters after voting on Sunday morning.
Erdoĝan also returned to his hometown from the capital, Ankara, to cast his vote. “I believe the thinking voter will make the best decision for Istanbul,” he told hundreds of supporters who greeted him near his residence in Üsküdar, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. Erdoğan also returned to his hometown from the capital, Ankara, to cast his vote. “I believe the thinking voter will make the best decision for Istanbul,” he told hundreds of supporters who greeted him near his residence in Üsküdar, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
Losing Istanbul for a second time would be an embarrassing and unacceptable outcome for the AKP. As Turkey’s biggest city and economic hub, Istanbul accounted for 31% of Turkey’s GDP in 2017, and the city is an important driver of the government’s unofficial patronage networks.Losing Istanbul for a second time would be an embarrassing and unacceptable outcome for the AKP. As Turkey’s biggest city and economic hub, Istanbul accounted for 31% of Turkey’s GDP in 2017, and the city is an important driver of the government’s unofficial patronage networks.
“If İmamoğlu wins again, there’s going to be a chain of serious changes in Turkish politics,” the journalist and writer Murat Yetkin told Reuters. “It will be interpreted as the beginning of a decline for AKP and for Erdoĝan as well,” he added, noting that the president himself had called the local elections “a matter of survival”. “If İmamoğlu wins again, there’s going to be a chain of serious changes in Turkish politics,” the journalist and writer Murat Yetkin told Reuters. “It will be interpreted as the beginning of a decline for AKP and for Erdoğan as well,” he added, noting that the president himself had called the local elections “a matter of survival”.
Rumours are already circulating in political circles that a second defeat could trigger a snap national election as Erdoĝan seeks to oust increasingly fractious elements in his government coalition. Rumours are already circulating in political circles that a second defeat could trigger a snap national election as Erdoğan seeks to oust increasingly fractious elements in his government coalition.
In Istanbul on Sunday, both AKP and CHP voters said they did not relish the prospect of further turmoil after polls closed at 5pm. “Clearly there is some funny business going on here but I don’t know what,” aid 65-year-old AKP voter Cihat Içyumaz. In Istanbul on Sunday, both AKP and CHP voters said they did not relish the prospect of further turmoil after polls closed at 5pm. “Clearly there is some funny business going on here but I don’t know what,” said 65-year-old AKP voter Cihat Içyumaz.
“For me, chaos after this round of elections is the scariest outcome. I just want the candidate who is best for Istanbul to win.”“For me, chaos after this round of elections is the scariest outcome. I just want the candidate who is best for Istanbul to win.”
Preliminary results were expected late on Sunday evening, but official results may be delayed several days as cross-party officials painstakingly watch the counting of votes for signs of electoral tampering.Preliminary results were expected late on Sunday evening, but official results may be delayed several days as cross-party officials painstakingly watch the counting of votes for signs of electoral tampering.
TurkeyTurkey
Recep Tayyip ErdoğanRecep Tayyip Erdoğan
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content