"Opposition's Landslide Victory Shifts Political Landscape in Turkey"

In a pivotal local election, Turkey's opposition dealt President Erdogan and his party their biggest electoral blow, with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu leading by 10 percentage points in the mayoral race and the Republican People’s Party retaining Ankara while gaining 15 other mayoral seats nationwide. This marked the worst defeat for Erdogan and his AK Party in over two decades in power, potentially signaling a change in the country’s political landscape. The opposition's success was attributed to soaring inflation, dissatisfied Islamist voters, and Imamoglu's broad appeal. Erdogan acknowledged the defeat and pledged to address the voters' message, while Imamoglu is now widely seen as a potential presidential challenger.