Turkey’s Opposition dealt President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a symbolic blow by gaining ground in key cities in the country’s local elections. Sunday’s local elections were widely seen as a gauge of support for Mr. Erdoğan as the nation of 81 million faces a daunting economic recession with double-digit inflation, rising food prices and high unemployment. It was also a first test for Mr. Erdoğan, who has been accused of increasingly authoritarian tendencies since stepping last year into a new presidential role with widely expanded powers. Even with 99% of the votes counted, ballot counts were still under way on Monday in the tight race for Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and commercial hub. Unofficial results reported by the state-run Anadolu news agency showed the Opposition at 48.8% support to the ruling party’s 48.5% support.

Source: The Hindu April 01, 2019 16:52 UTC