Latest defection hands Erdogan’s AKP control of Turkey’s third-largest city The ruling party’s takeover of Izmir’s mayoralty is the latest example of the unraveling of the opposition parties’ historic gains in Turkey’s 2024 local elections. Turkey
Turkey's Erdogan to run for 'final' third term in 2028, adviser says If Turkey's parliament votes to move the next election up during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s second term, he could constitutionally run for third. Turkey
Explainer What’s behind Turkey’s latest wave of arrests against opposition mayors? The operations come as Ozgur Ozel’s newly formed party gains momentum. Turkey
Top ally of Turkey’s Erdogan backs state funding for Ozel’s breakaway party Devlet Bahceli’s suggestion exposes a more nuanced position within the country’s governing alliance over the ongoing legal crackdown against Turkey’s main opposition. Turkey
Analysis Erdogan’s CHP move raises early poll prospects as Iran war bleeds Turkey’s economy By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Political earthquake in Turkey: A regime running amok? Three elected Kurdish mayors were removed from their posts in a move further endangering what remains of Turkey's democracy. Syria
Has Turkey’s policy on Syrian refugees started to backfire? The Syrian refugee question is set to pose a major political headache for Erdogan in the coming period. Syria
Opposition aims to curb Erdogan’s powers after election rout The government’s debacle in local polls in Istanbul and most of Turkey’s other big cities has set the stage for a new power struggle in which the opposition appears bent on trimming Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s powers. The president, in turn, seeks to debilitate the newly elected opposition mayors. Turkey
Opposition retakes Istanbul mayor's office to find powers shrinking As Istanbul’s new Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu retakes office after beating the ruling party's candidate a second time, reports are emerging that his powers and those of other Turkish mayors are already being whittled down. Turkey
Ankara’s economic tasks grow tougher after election rout Reeling from a crushing defeat in a critical election rerun, Turkey’s government faces an uphill track in efforts to fix the economy, littered with major political risks, both at home and abroad. Turkey
Why Erdogan’s historic Istanbul defeat is irreparable The government’s defeat in Istanbul's mayoral election is nothing less than a historic watershed, for Erdogan lacks the means to remedy the factors behind this outcome, mainly the economic crisis bruising the country. Turkey
As Istanbul celebrates, Erdogan-watchers hold breath Turkey's president has so far reacted calmly to his party's second and decisive defeat in the Istanbul mayoral vote, but this hopeful moment could presage a darker future. Turkey
Opposition candidate wins Istanbul mayor's race in blow to AKP Voters rebuke long-time AKP dominance in Istanbul, delivering victory to CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu in a controversial election do-over. Turkey
Jailed militant leader enters Istanbul election fray An unexpected message from Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence for treason, urged Kurds to stay “neutral” and could tilt the outcome in a bitter campaign for control of Turkey’s biggest city. Turkey
Will Syrian voters be kingmakers in Istanbul's mayoral election? Though small in number, the votes of naturalized Syrians in Turkey could be decisive in the rerun election to select the new mayor of Istanbul, the city with the largest Syrian population outside Syria. Syria
Erdogan faces consequences of his two biggest mistakes Erdogan's repeat strategic blunders may come to haunt him in the June 23 rerun of the Istanbul vote. Turkey
Istanbul mayoral hopefuls spar in rare debate With a week to go before Istanbul votes again, the opposition’s candidate Ekrem Imamoglu and ruling party's Binali Yildirim sought to consolidate support in the country’s first televised debate in nearly two decades. Turkey
