Municipal elections in Turkey: Can the AKP reclaim Ankara and Istanbul

(Patria) - Turks are voting today in municipal elections across the country, focused on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's attempt to regain control of Istanbul from his main rival Ekrem Imamoglu, Reuters reported.

Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu dealt Erdogan and his AK party the biggest electoral blow in two decades of rule with his victory in the 2019 elections.

Today's vote could now strengthen Erdogan's control over Turkey, or signal a shift in the divided political landscape of the large emerging economy. Imamoglu's victory is seen as fueling expectations that he will become a future national leader.

Polling stations open at 7 a.m. in eastern Turkey, and elsewhere voting begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. The first results are expected by 10 p.m.

Polls indicate a close race in Istanbul, a city of sixteen million people that drives the Turkish economy, where Imamoglu's AKP rival is Murat Kurum, a former minister.

The results will likely be partly shaped by economic problems caused by
inflation of nearly 70%, as well as Kurdish and Islamist voters.

While the main prize for Erdogan is Istanbul, he is also seeking to win the capital, Ankara. Both cities were won by the opposition in 2019 after being under the rule of his AKP for the previous 25 years.

Erdogan's prospects have been helped by the collapse of the opposition alliance that defeated him last year, although Imamoglu continues to appeal to voters outside his main opposition Republican People's Party.

Voters of the main pro-Kurdish party were crucial to Imamoglu's success in 2019. Their DEM party is fielding its own candidate in Istanbul this time, but many Kurds are expected to set aside party loyalty and vote for him again.

In the predominantly Kurdish southeast, DEM seeks to reaffirm its strength after the state removed mayors of pro-Kurdish parties following previous elections due to alleged links with militants.

One factor working against Erdogan is the rise in support for the Islamist New Welfare Party
due to its hardline stance against Israel regarding the conflict in Gaza and
dissatisfaction with the AKP's handling of the economy.