Local elections in Turkey : Istanbul is a new era

On Taksim square in the heart of Istanbul wants the construction work continues on the day after the local election to the Grand mosque, with the help of the AKP by the country's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, their claim to power over the metropolis demonstrate. However, despite the armored cars, water cannons and police bars, a new Wind was blowing over the place – a breath of relief blows noticeably, with the passers-by the tangible victory of the Opposition in your city welcome. "It was high time," says a Simit-seller, while dealing with his sesame Bagel. "We urgently need to change," adds a Student who has seen with his 20 years, no other party in the town hall of his city. "Now a new era begins."

At the election victory of the opposition candidate Ekrem imamoğlu not doubt a lot of people in Taksim, although his lead in front of the AKP candidate Binali yıldırım is paper-thin and the end result is still to be determined. "Then you should just choose once, then wins again imamoğlu," says a Mittfünfzigerin that comes with shopping bags loaded of the Sale, the government makes subsidized vegetables to offer. "We have enough of it to be of Erdogan to each other rushed," added her companion. "Friendships, family, everything he makes is broken by polarization." Because of him you've fallen out with your sister.

A ray of light after a long darkness was the result of the election for him, said an official of the municipal public order office, which oversees the vegetables. For years, he had to reckon daily with his release, because he is unionized - most of the colleagues from the trade Union were fired from the municipality for a long time and partly abroad, fled. The joy of work and self in the life he was by the constant political pressure, says the 35-year-old. Therefore, this was a day of rejoicing.

In the city hall, however, the mood today is "like being in a funeral home," says the official. For the AKP, the election defeat was a severe blow, because after 25 years in the city hall of Istanbul have become the party of it, to be able to funds, personnel and benefices of the metropolis have access to. Therefore, it is important to monitor the recount of the votes, with Argus eyes, to prevent tampering and removal. "The next three days are critical," says the man from the clerk's office.

For the Islamic-conservative AKP and their boss, Erdogan, the defeat came in Istanbul unexpectedly. As the results began to hint at on election night, the victory of the Opposition in the city, stopped the state-run news Agency Anadolu suddenly your reporting and Yildirim gave the opportunity, as a result of Anadolu's most recently reported projection of a few thousand votes to the winner to declare.

Amateurish and desperate attempt of the government to brace themselves against the reality seemed to be. On Monday morning, Sadi Güven, the head of the electoral authority YSK clarified, clearly and officially, that the opposition candidate imamoğlu deck with almost 30,000 votes in the lead.

In Turkish cities, the Trend was already visible for longer

the Trend against the AKP in the Turkish cities was already in elections in the past years. Three out of four Turks now live in cities, but the Erdogan's party has no answers to the pressing questions and Concerns of many people there. In Istanbul AKP supporters resent the fact that the last bit is Green concreted over. Together with the economic crisis - unemployment is at the highest level for ten years, while Inflation and the devaluation of the Lira eat up the savings of many people - this development led to the defeat of the AKP.

the losers of the Election Yildirim does not want to settle for the day after, still with the Situation. He speaks of more than 300,000 ballots, which had been declared in Istanbul for invalid. He was ready to congratulate imamoğlu a victory, but it was not so far.

That Yildirim is clinging at straws, has a good reason. With the coming to Power in Istanbul, Ankara and elsewhere, the AKP has lost in the main population centres, their supporters, good Post zuzuschustern and to provide government-related corporations and institutions with public funds. Istanbul is the heart of the Turkish economy, here it is for politicians the most.

Turkish municipalities will be expected of Erdogan's government

Therefore, bullied must imamoğlu with resistors. Turkish municipalities depend on the financial leash of Erdogan's government in Ankara, "then you are supposed to rule changes, we'll see", said the heads of state on election night: The remark can be understood as a threat. Many of Istanbul's Fatih district administrations to remain in the hands of the ACP; maybe the local politicians are making the new Lord mayor.

in Addition, Imamoglus victory awakens great, maybe even too great hopes in his electorate. So many hope for a greener Istanbul. Imamoğlu has promised to leave a large Park in the city - specifically in the memory of the victims of the Gezi Park protests of 2013, which were sparked plans for a construction project in the small Gezi Park in Taksim square. But how and where is this Park, is unclear.

In the new office will need to imamoğlu also strive to eliminate the climate of fear that has descended in the last years of the city. Regular police operations against peaceful rallies of the civil society in Istanbul today, also to everyday life as well as a strong presence of security forces.

local election in Turkey, Erdogan's party loses, probably Ankara and Istanbul

on the day after the election. At the Gezi Park in front of the half-finished mosque on Taksim square with water cannons and crew cars are available, heavily armed security forces patrolling the place. The least passers-by will want to call your name, but the Student Erhan Yilmaz has no concerns. The ACP have also done Good, he says, one should not deny the fact: public transport in Istanbul, the roads are good. "But they have mixed politics and Religion, this is just not good," he says. "This will change our new mayor imamoğlu now."