Turkey: Istanbul back to polls in mayoral election re-run

Istanbul residents are returning to the polls to elect a mayor after an opposition candidate's surprise victory in March was annulled.

Ekrem Imamoglu won by 13,000 votes, prompting allegations of irregularities from Turkey's ruling AK party.

Mr Imamoglu has vowed to "battle for democracy" and polls say he is likely to beat former prime minister Binali Yildirim for a second time.

The result is considered significant for President Erdogan's future.

As a former mayor of Istanbul - Turkey's economic and cultural centre, home to 15 million people - the president has often said that "he who wins Istanbul wins Turkey".

Mr Imamoglu, 49, is from the secular Republican People's Party and is mayor of Istanbul's Beylikduzu district.

His opponent Mr Yildirim was a founding member of Mr Erdogan's AKP and was prime minister between 2016 and 2018, when Turkey became a presidential democracy and the role no longer existed.

He was elected as speaker of the new parliament in February and before that served as minister of transportation and communication.

Mr Imamoglu's name was barely known before he ran for mayor in the March election.

His campaign message - "everything will be all right" - has struck a note of optimism in a city where many have become disillusioned following an an economic recession that some blame on the government.

When he was stripped of his victory in the March election, Mr Imamoglu told supporters: "We will win back our rights with a smile on our face."

He said he would "embrace those who resist us".

Source: https://aderonkebamidele.com/turkey-istanbul-back-to-polls-in-mayoral-election-re-run/