Turkey's resurgent Opposition thumps Erdogan in pivotal local elections

Supporters of pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) celebrate following the early results of the local elections in Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 31, 2024. Turkey's main opposition party on Sunday claimed victory in Istanbul and Ankara, with its rising political star emerging from local elections as a serious challenger to veteran President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Partial results from across the nation of 85 million people showed major advances for the Republican People's Party (CHP) at the expense of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) that has dominated politics for more than two decades. (Photo by Ilyas AKENGIN / AFP)

ISTANBUL (Reuters): Turks dealt President Tayyip Erdogan and his party their biggest electoral blow on Sunday in a nationwide local vote that reasserted the opposition as a political force and reinforced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as the president's chief rival.

With most of the votes counted, Imamoglu led by 10 percentage points in the mayoral race in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, while his Republican People's Party (CHP) retained Ankara and gained 15 other mayoral seats in cities nationwide.