Turkey Elections: HUGE blow to Erdogan as AK Party loses mayor in Ankara, maybe Istanbul

However, he added they still remained “the number one party in Turkey”. He said: “In Istanbul, the majority of the districts are either ours or head-to-head. What does this mean? Even if our people gave away the mayorship, they gave the districts to the AK Party.”

Erdogan also said his party would appeal results wherever needed, and added that he would take the necessary measures at ministries and institutions to make the system of governance more dynamic.

Turkey’s main opposition candidate for mayoral elections in Istanbul said it was “very clear” that his party had won the vote in Istanbul, the country’s biggest city.

Republican People’s party (CHP) candidate Ekrem Imamoglu told reporters in Istanbul: “I know we won in Istanbul, it is very clear.”

The party had previously defeated Erdogan’s AK Party in the city’s capital, Ankara, for the first time since Erdogan came to power 16 years ago.

READ MORE: Erdogan CRISIS: Turkish president faces brutal election threat

Erdogan added there would not be other elections for four and a half years.

The mayoral elections were reportedly seen as a referendum on his popularity.

Since losing cities in the elections, he has pledged that his government would now focus on implementing strong economic plans.

Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul, Erdogan said the next elections would be held in June 2023 and that Turkey would carefully implement a “strong economic programme” without compromising on free market rules.

Erdogan has dominated Turkish politics for almost 20 years following economic growth and support from a core constituency of pious, conservative Muslim Turks.

But a currency crisis after last year’s election dragged the lira down by 30 percent and tipped the economy toward recession.

With inflation close to 20 percent and unemployment rising, some voters appeared ready to punish the president.

CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said: “The people have voted in favour of democracy, they have chosen democracy.”

source: express.co.uk