Mayor of Opposition Stronghold Izmir Defects to Erdogan Party
The defection gives Erdogan a symbolic win in a city the AK Party has never won, while the opposition still controls the municipal council.
- On Wednesday, Mayor Cemil Tugay joined President Tayyip Erdogan's AKP at a ceremony in Ankara, handing the ruling party a symbolic prize in Turkey's third-largest city, a historic bastion of secular opposition.
- Tugay won the March 2024 election with 49% of the vote as a Republican People candidate, but quit the party in June following a court ruling and served as an independent for three months.
- New Party leader Özgür Özel alleged on Tuesday that Tugay faced "threats, blackmail and pressure," while Tugay reversed his earlier vow that joining the AKP was "not even a one-in-a-million chance."
- Despite the defection, the AKP does not control Izmir's city council; the New Party remains the largest group with 91 members, while independents hold 11 seats.
- This switch makes Tugay the first right-wing mayor of Turkey's third-largest city in 27 years, ending a streak where the ruling party failed to win Izmir in three consecutive elections.
59 Articles
59 Articles
THE MAYOR of Turkey's third largest city joined the ruling party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today, making her the first mayor to take up the position of mayor in that stronghold of the opposition.
Mayor of Turkey's secular stronghold Izmir joins Erdogan's party
ANKARA, Oct 7 - The mayor of Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city and a bastion of its secular opposition, joined President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party (AKP) on Wednesday, amid a crackdown on the opposition in which dozens of mayors have been jailed. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Radio France Internationale
France24Mayor of opposition stronghold Izmir defects to Erdogan party
Mayor Cemil Tugay's decision to join the Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) was announced by Erdogan at a parliamentary group meeting in Ankara where he welcomed the mayor in a party-like atmosphere broadcast live on TV. "I welcome Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay who is today joining the AKP family," Erdogan said as Tugay walked onto the stage and was handed a party pin. Taking control of the mayorship of Izmir, a secular stronghold on …
El Periódico
After weeks of rumors and leaks to the press, the party of the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has taken on Wednesday the mayorship of Izmir, the third largest city in the country. This city had never before been ruled by the Islamists, and in fact is seen in Turkey as the largest, most progressive, open and secular metropolis in the country. Continue reading....
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