'New future' Opposition sweeps to victory in local polls

Turkey's main opposition party dealt an unexpected blow to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's rule last Sunday with a sweeping victory in local elections, maintaining control of major cities including the capital, Ankara, and Istanbul, where Ekrem İmamoğlu secured a second term as mayor.

- Ruth Michaelson and Ayça Aldatmaz

"My dear Istanbulites, you opened the door to a new future today," İmamoğlu told supporters of his opposition Republican People's party (CHP). "You opened the door to the rise of democracy, equality and freedom ... You ignited hope at the ballot box."

The results quickly became symbolic of dissatisfaction with Erdoğan, who began rallying his supporters to turn out in local elections immediately after winning the presidency last year.

Erdoğan was at the forefront of his party's campaign to retake Istanbul, holding rallies in the city in the week before the vote and attending prayers at the symbolic Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul the night prior to the ballot.

"These election results show that voters decided to establish a new politics in Turkey," said the head of the CHP, Özgür Özel, addressing the public with tears in his eyes.