As economy sours, Erdogan's party could lose grip on big cities in local polls

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan greets members of parliament from his ruling AK Party (AKP) as he arrives a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Turkey, January 15, 2019. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

ANKARA (Reuters) - After a decade and a half in power and an economic boom gone sour, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party could lose control of some large cities in local elections on March 31.

While Erdogan will continue to hold sweeping executive powers, a weak showing by the AKP would be a symbolic blow and illustrate how frustration over the economy has hurt a politician long seen as unbeatable.