Istanbul has (again) the choice | Currently Europe | '
Seven weeks after the cancellation of the election in Istanbul, 10.5 million voters vote once more this Sunday about the mayor of the metropolis. Since 8:00 local time (7:00 CEST), the approximately 31,000 polling stations are open. First forecasts are expected soon after the end of the poll at 17:00 local time. Observers expect a head-to-head race, so that reliable results should be available only at night. At the original election at the end of March, AKP candidate Binali Yildirim had already declared his alleged victory at around midnight, and the next morning, after all votes had been cast, Ekrem Imamoglu from the opposition CHP was on top.
Many hope for him: Ekrem Imamoglu, candidate of the center-left party CHP in a recent campaign appearance on Friday
A narrow victory with alleged violations
The surprise success of the 49-year-old was like a political earthquake. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is credited with quoting: "Who governs Istanbul, governs Turkey." Erdogan himself had begun his political career in the city and was there until 1998 Mayor himself. His Islamic-conservative AKP had sent a prominent candidate into the race with former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim to secure supremacy – all the more bitter was the brief triumph of Imamoglu for party and president.
The AKP filed a petition for annulment of the election for alleged irregularities – the High Electoral Commission met in early May. The repetition this Sunday is therefore under special supervision: The Council of Europe has seconded election observers, and also for the CHP are 200,000 volunteers in action.
AKP supporters are following a campaign appearance of their favorite Binali Yildirim on Friday
In addition to Imamoglu and Yildirim, one candidate from the small opposition parties Vatan and Saadet arrives this Sunday. The AKP-affiliated ultra-nationalist party MHP supports Yildirim – the pro-Kurdish HDP and the conservative Iyi party support Imamoglu.
From the holiday to the urn
Tens of thousands of Istanbulers have prematurely returned from vacation or have interrupted it. The repetition of the municipal election in Turkey falls into the summer holidays and many city dwellers then go to relatives in the country or on the coast. But they are only allowed to vote in Istanbul.
The managing director of the airline Turkish Airlines, Bilal Eksi, explained, because of the rush one provided 24 additional flights.
With special machines from Turkish Airlines, many Istanbulers from holiday regions were flown home (archive)
In the election on 31 March, around 8.8 million Istanbulers had voted, which corresponds to an 84 percent stake. This time opinion pollers expect a record participation.
Postcards call for a choice
In order not to lose a voice over the holiday season, the opposition in holiday regions had started a campaign weeks ago. With slogans on postcard motifs, tourists were asked not to go to the beach but to vote. For example, in the western Turkish province of Canakkale, it said, "Shark attack on Bozcaada beaches expected on June 23. Select in Istanbul Do not become shark food." From Bodrum it was addressed to the "beloved citizens of Istanbul", all beaches are closed on June 23 because of a snow warning.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Does he allow a democratic vote this time?
The vote is being followed nationwide as well as internationally – after all, it is seen by many as a test of the state of democracy. So it is the question of whether in Turkey a change of power is still possible by democratic means.
ehl / se / ml (dpa, afp)
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