“Today Turkish democracy is stronger.” This was stated by the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, regarding his victory against the candidate supported by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the local elections of 31 May in Turkey. “These elections represent an important data on the social democratic intervention against authoritarianism”, said Imamoglu, underlining that the Republican People’s Party (CHP), of which he is part, has for the first time overtaken Erdogan’s AKP at the level national, “despite the massive defamatory and discrediting campaigns launched against us every day by the majority of the media”.
During a conference with the international press in the city on the Bosphorus, in which ANSA participated, the mayor recalled that his party’s candidates “won in the cities that produce around 80% of the Turkish economy and where he lives 70% of the population.” According to Imamoglu, the good result obtained represents a punishment of the electorate also against the economic crisis that has taken place in recent years under Erdogan’s governments. “Our citizens have expressed their will for change in these elections and have charted a new course for Turkey,” said the mayor of Istanbul, who is seen by many analysts as Erdogan’s most popular challenger in the presidential elections scheduled for 2028.
Invoking an environmentalist conscience, Imamoglu reiterated his opposition to Erdogan’s plan for a canal parallel to the Bosphorus (Kanal Istanbul) and promised to work to make Istanbul’s buildings earthquake-proof, admitting that the measures are not yet adequate in this moment even though “all tourist facilities have earthquake resistance certificates”.
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