The Turkish local elections of 2019 will be held on Sunday 31 March 2019 throughout the 81 provinces of Turkey. A total of 30 metropolitan and 1,351 district municipal mayors, alongside 1,251 provincial and 20,500 municipal councillors will be elected, in addition to numerous local non-partisan positions such as neighbourhood wardens (Muhtars) and elderly people’s councils. Here is a collection of tweets about the significance of this election:
#Turkey Heads for its Dirtiest Election Yet
"Fearing a backlash from voters in response to the first recession in a decade, the government has employed its control of the media, courts, & the country’s voting machinery to undermine the opposition." https://t.co/PlfcymwPKK
— FDD (@FDD) March 29, 2019
2. Given economic and political malaise, the AKP would see a drubbing in free, fair elections. It will likely see some setbacks, but they will not be as pronounced as news items suggest. Turkey's elections are not free and fair.
— Howard Eissenstat (@heissenstat) March 29, 2019
I think – if forced – the AKP would be willing to employ massive rigging to ensure a victory in Istanbul. I can't imagine any scenario in which Erdogan allows that city out of AKP control, regardless of what the voters say.
— Howard Eissenstat (@heissenstat) March 29, 2019
On Ankara, I am entirely unsure. If the margins are close, the usual minor manipulations at the edges might be enough to ensure an AKP victory.
— Howard Eissenstat (@heissenstat) March 29, 2019
If the AKP can obtain a win through minor manipulation, they certainly will. Would they risk gross manipulation. Perhaps, but such a path is not cost free. Which leaves the "Kayyum" alternative if they fail. They have already painted Yavas as a terrorist.
— Howard Eissenstat (@heissenstat) March 29, 2019
After all, it isn't like actual criminal activity is required to prosecute and imprison important political figures in Turkey. pic.twitter.com/MyxjBHWcVh
— Howard Eissenstat (@heissenstat) March 29, 2019
This was not only from among HDP mayors in Kurdish areas, but also AKP's Melih Gokcek in Ankara, who was forced to step down. This in itself was ironic since many believed current opp person running in Ankara, Mansur Yavas, was cheated out by Gokcek, when he lost to him in 2014.
— Louis Fishman (@Istanbultelaviv) March 30, 2019
As for Istanbul, its is up in air. Some state its impossible for CHP to take it. Yes, it is next to impossible. I have to admit @ekrem_imamoglu has ran a great campaign. AKP's candidate Binali Yildirim is a party functionary and without Erdogan would never have had a chance.
— Louis Fishman (@Istanbultelaviv) March 30, 2019
But this is the point–this, like past seven elections and referendums Turkey has seen in the last 5 years, this is not more than a referendum on Erdogan. And, what is remarkable is that with all the AKP's resources, they are not able to scrape up more support. Turkey is divided.
— Louis Fishman (@Istanbultelaviv) March 30, 2019
The 2009 municipal elections showed us economy can play role in local elections. And with Turkey's economy ailing, certainly gov could take a hit, even if small. So nonetheless tomorrow is a big day, that despite opp knowing cards stacked up against them, they'll get out in vote.
— Louis Fishman (@Istanbultelaviv) March 30, 2019
The elections tuned into a vote of confidence for Mr. Erdogan. I never experienced such a mud fight before, Mr. Erdogan openly threatened the opposition leaders to put them into jail. He is lonely. The image of his last TV appearance speaks for itself:pic.twitter.com/aPbPMD6WQv
— Atilla Torgay (@atillatorgay) March 30, 2019
Lira wobbles as U.S. ties with Turkey fray https://t.co/xtKSSgE9MR pic.twitter.com/2tGBAqRitw
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) March 29, 2019
Erdoğan speaks at eight different rallies today, only two days before local polls |
Erdogan basically repeats 98% of the same speech but yet #CNNTurk carries every single each of them, not giving any room to the opposition. https://t.co/Tk5zUaYjvG pic.twitter.com/jA8vdpWPUn— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) March 29, 2019
Pay attention to Hagia Sophia was converted into museum onlu short time ago — it was converted into a museum in 1935 by Turkey Republic's founder Ataturk. https://t.co/ORcxHLhY8C
— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) March 29, 2019
The #Turkish president #Erdogan is desperate to win the local election on March 31; he is willing to use any thing:
•Golan
•Gaza
•Hagia Sophia
Next he will promise to colonise Mars and conquer Jupiter.— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) March 25, 2019
Regardless of who wins, or is “announced to have won” tomorrow this was the dirtiest election campaign I have seen in my life time. It may also be the last local election we see as President Erdogan hinted at switching to a system that appoints mayors rather than electing them.
— Suat KINIKLIOGLU (@kinikli88_ENG) March 30, 2019
💬 Steven Cook: Erdogan set to win the elections, relaying on questions of God and identity
📌 "Erdogan has all the reasons to be scared for this election, but…"
🎙📻 @stevenacook @yavuzbaydar4 and @WashingtonPoint
🔷 Listen on @AhvalPod https://t.co/KT6zmNkGgk
— Ahval (@ahval_en) March 29, 2019
Nervana 