Istanbul’s mayoral race is heating up as candidates from 22 political parties and 27 independents gear up for the upcoming local elections on March 31. The contest is notably fierce between the current Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Murat Kurum, representing the nationally ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). This election comes after the AKP’s significant loss of the municipality to the CHP in the 2019 local elections, marking the first such defeat in 25 years and a considerable blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who previously held the position from 1994 to 1998.
Erdoğan, rallying support for Kurum, promised a new era for Istanbul at a recent gathering of 650,000 supporters. İmamoğlu, on the other hand, is traversing districts to highlight his tenure’s achievements and engage with the city’s residents, addressing their concerns.
The significance of Istanbul as Turkey’s economic powerhouse was echoed by independent candidate Nasuh Mahruki, emphasizing the city’s role as a crucial employment center. With over 61 million people eligible to vote this Sunday, including 1 million first-timers, all eyes are on Istanbul as it could dictate future political dynamics in Turkey.