Istanbul

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed an order to re-run the recent Istanbul election, a move the opposition has branded an attack on democracy. His ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost the mayorship of Turkey’s biggest city by a narrow margin and has refused to accept defeat. “We sincerely believe there was organised corruption and irregularities,“ Erdogan told party members in parliament on Tuesday, saying the re-run was the “best step” for the country. On Monday, Turkey’s top election body annulled the results of the March 31 mayoral vote, which was won by Ekrem Imamoglu of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The party’s leader described the seven members of the election board as “gang members” under Erdogan’s control. “Those who take their power from the palace will be brought to account before history one day. We take our power from the people,“ … [Read more...] about Erdogan welcomes controversial re-run of Istanbul vote

ISTANBUL: The Turkish opposition candidate stripped of his mayoral post after a controversial order to re-run the Istanbul vote was holding talks with his party leader on Tuesday (May 7) to discuss strategy.The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has condemned the decision by Turkey's top election body to renew the election as "neither democratic nor legitimate".Ekrem Imamoglu, who won the disputed vote in Istanbul by a narrow margin in the March 31 local election, met with CHP chief Kemal Kilicdaroglu and will later meet Good Party leader Meral Aksener, the CHP said.The talks come a day after the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) called for a replay of the Istanbul election after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party complained of "irregularities" and "organised crime".The loss of Istanbul, the country's economic hub and largest city, had been a shocking defeat for the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The party and its predecessors have ruled the city for 25 … [Read more...] about Opposition chiefs talk strategy for Istanbul vote re-run

ISTANBUL: Turkey's top election body ordered a re-run of the Istanbul mayoral election on Monday (May 6) after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party complained about its shock defeat in the vote, the state news agency reported.The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) narrowly lost Turkey's biggest city in Mar 31 local elections, ending the party and its predecessors' 25-year control of the metropolis.The AKP claims there were "irregularities and corruption" in the vote that required a re-run of the mayoral election, which was won by Ekrem Imamoglu, of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) by just 15,000 votes.Imamoglu received his official mandate after two weeks of recounts, sending shockwaves through the ruling party since Erdogan, former mayor of the city, once said winning Istanbul was like winning the whole of Turkey.Erdogan had presented the local elections as a matter of national survival. He campaigned heavily even though he was not running himself.The … [Read more...] about Turkey election body orders Istanbul vote re-run

ISTANBUL: Istanbul police detained dozens of people who were trying to hold a May day rally at city centre square on Wednesday (May 1) in defiance of a protest ban.Some 127 people were detained attempting to make their way to an unauthorised demonstration at Taksim Square, a traditional focal point of protest in the city, according to Istanbul police, who barricaded nearby roads including the bustling Istiklal Avenue.Protesters were pinned roughly to police vehicles during the arrests, AFP correspondents said, while tourists in the area were also subjected to baggage searches.The annual workers' holiday is often marked by confrontation between demonstrators and police.Several thousand people were able to attend an officially-approved event in the Istanbul district of Bakirkoy, including members of workers' unions and opposition political parties, a correspondent said.Tensions are heightened in Istanbul after Mar 31 local elections.The opposition's Ekrem Imamoglu narrowly defeated … [Read more...] about Istanbul police detains dozens as Turkey marks May 1