Mayor of Turkish Opposition Stronghold Defects to Erdogan's Party
The leader of Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city, has joined President Erdogan's ruling AKP, marking a significant shift in the political landscape.
ISTANBUL -- The mayor of Izmir, a long-standing opposition stronghold in Turkey, has defected to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), a move that transfers the mayoralty of the country's third-largest city to Erdogan's party for the first time in over two decades.
Cemil Tugay, who won the 2024 mayoral election with 49% of the vote, officially joined the AKP at a ceremony in Ankara on Wednesday. Izmir had been governed by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for more than 20 years. Tugay stated that he sees the AKP as the "voice of the voiceless" and pledged to work on revitalizing and rebuilding Izmir.
Tugay's decision to leave the CHP followed a legal case that led to the removal of the party's leadership in May. This judicial action resulted in many CHP members departing, with a significant number joining the New Party, which was established by former CHP leader Ozgur Ozel and has since surpassed the CHP in size among opposition parties. Tugay had initially remained an independent and had denied plans to join the AKP.
Despite Tugay's defection, the Izmir municipal assembly remains under the control of a New Party majority. In response to the mayor's move, the opposition called for protests in Izmir's main square, prompting police to set up barriers.
Since 2024, when the CHP consolidated its control over several major cities, including the capital Ankara and Istanbul, municipalities led by the party have faced numerous criminal investigations. Hundreds of CHP members have been detained as a result.
Among the most prominent figures targeted is Ekrem Imamoglu, the metropolitan mayor of Istanbul and a leading opposition figure considered a potential challenger to Erdogan in presidential elections. Imamoglu has been subject to multiple legal cases, including one alleging corruption within the Istanbul municipality. He faces potential sentences totaling over 2,300 years if convicted in the main case. While critics assert these legal actions are politically motivated attempts to weaken the opposition, the Turkish government maintains that the judiciary operates independently.