Comment: In Turkey, democracy is still alive | Comments | '
Ekrem Imamoglu of the opposition CHP had a clear advantage over his opponent Binali Yildirim of the AKP. More than nine percentage points plus a turnout that was even higher than in March 31: The 23rd of June 2019 will undoubtedly go down in Turkey's history books.
It was exactly 19:15 clock Turkish time, as in the various TV channels has already been confirmed behind closed doors, who has decided to repeat the mayoral election in Istanbul for themselves. Already in the first election on 31 March Imamoglu was with over 13,000 votes in front of the former Prime Minister Yildirim. Now he has expanded his lead to nearly 800,000 votes. For many in Turkey this is more than a sign. It is a wake-up call: The dwindling democracy in Turkey is still alive!
Erkan Arikan, head of the ‘ Turkish Editorial Office
One indication of this is that all of Imamoglu's political opponents, who had showered him with insults and defamation in advance, now congratulate Kleinlaut on his success. First and foremost, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. For him, this defeat without ifs and buts must be a real slap in the face. By all means he tried to help his own candidate to victory, even put the High Electoral Council under pressure. But he has now received the receipt from the voters in Istanbul.
"We need justice"
Even for the votes of the Kurdish population, the AKP vied in an unprecedented way. But the pro-Kurdish HDP had called on its supporters to vote for Imamoglu. For the first time in Turkey, I have seen people express their hunger for democracy. Shortly after the High Electoral Council scheduled the re-run of the elections in Istanbul on 23 June, many tourist resorts campaigned for the Istanbul residents to urgently interrupt their holidays and vote in the new elections. Special machines were used, additional buses were chartered and carpools were founded.
In fact, hundreds of thousands – some even claim nearly 1.5 million voters – have come to Istanbul for 24 hours to vote. Wedding couples went to the ballot box before voting. A taxi driver I talked to said: "I have always voted for the AKP, this time I will not do it, we need justice, we are believers and not hypocrites!"
Not only with his own voice Erdogan has tried to bring the ACP candidate into office
What does that mean for Erdogan's AKP?
Erdogan is in a big dilemma. He can no longer continue his hard line – restriction of press freedom, political pressure against oppositionists – in this way. For the foreign policy tightrope that he has long performed, now comes to him a new domestic political front to him. The loss of Istanbul after 25 years will also leave its mark on him.
There are even signs that former companions have been waiting for this historic defeat in the Bosporus metropolis. The rumors of the past few weeks and months, former AKP founding members would launch a new party, just with the victory of the CHP in Istanbul, a new breeding ground.
Is this the end of Erdogan? Hardly likely. A Erdogan will not let this defeat get him down. Is this a turning point in Erdogan's politics? Definitely! Erdogan now has two options: 1. He will continue on an even harder line. Or 2: He will do everything to remain in power. He has his big goal to be at least until the 100th anniversary of the founding of Turkey in 2023 President of the country, he still has his eyes fixed. However, President Erdogan will have to make more compromises in the future – perhaps for the first time in his political career.
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