Erdoğan claims victory in Turkish local elections but major cities in doubt

Early results point to opposition wins in Ankara and Istanbul, while recounts are likely amid counter-claims by ruling AKP party

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has claimed a decisive victory for his ruling party in local elections viewed as a crucial test of his leadership, even as initial results pointed to wins for the opposition in Istanbul and Ankara.

State media reported on Sunday that Erdoğan’s Justice and Development party (AKP) had lost control of Ankara to opposition bloc mayoral candidate Mansur Yavas – a significant blow to the AKP, ending 25 years of the Islamist party’s dominance over the capital.

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from World news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2JTMmi3