Erdogan suffers major blow as ruling party defeated in second vote, as opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu won 54.03 per cent of the vote and outdoing his rival Binali Yıldırım by 9 per cent, and broke the record set by former Istanbul Mayor Bedrettin Dalan 35 years ago. Here is my twitter thread on this election results
In a blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's opposition wins Istanbul mayoral election after an earlier poll was canceled. The result adds pressure on a government grappling with recession and international crises. https://t.co/zmF7zJ66L9
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 23, 2019
Victory…!!! #herseycokguzeloldu pic.twitter.com/wlOMosmt8l
— Suat KINIKLIOGLU (@kinikli88_ENG) June 23, 2019
I have been following Turkish politics since I was 14.
I have never felt happier than today.
Thank you @ekrem_imamoglu for bringing back hope.— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) June 23, 2019
This is not any victory…
This is history…#Imamoglu #IstanbulElection https://t.co/WeFyIFkdlP— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) June 23, 2019
#IstanbulElection
•Opposition #Imamoglu won 53% of vote
•Gap between him & Erdogan’s candidate, which was only 13 K votes in first round, extended to 800 K.
•He won even the most conservative districts in istanbul: Uskudar, Fatih, Eyüp as @WashingtonPoint wrote#Historicdefeat— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) June 23, 2019
Watching a pro-Erdogan dude on @skynewsarabia describes #Turkey as democracy. The shameless exploitation of #Imamoglu victory has begun. #Erdogan may have lost, but he will try to spin his defeat to whitewash his authoritarianism.#IstanbulElection
— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) June 23, 2019
Last night, Turkey-based #Morsi’s man and #Islamist scholar prayed for #Erdogan’s candidate in #IstanbulElection.
Clearly his prayers failed.
The Muslim Brotherhood did not just failed in #Egypt; their curse has reached Turkey! https://t.co/TxfYsVOjKE— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) June 23, 2019
My fears for @ekrem_imamoglu
•Safety: He is vulnerable now to revenge attacks from Erdogan’s fan club
•Authority: #Erdogan can change law to limit mayors’ authorties.
•Legal challenges: Erdogan accused him of insulting a provincial governor.
•CHP: Will opposition stay united?— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) June 23, 2019
No doubt. However, economic reality will turn more against Erdogan if he tries that path. The Sultan is in twilight, whether he likes it or not! https://t.co/dUdEWv34oa
— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) June 23, 2019
There is no fair election in Turkey, neither in Istanbul. A soccer game in which one team plays both halves downhill with the referee in its pocket. However, if the opponent has enough will and energy, still beat back the governing team. This is what happened again on June 23.
— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) June 23, 2019
For everyone living in Turkey and Istanbul specifically:
AKP are going to attack İmamoğlu from day one. We need to support his projects and do everything in our power to help him do his job.
Forget the Presidency for now. We need to help him create his legacy in Istanbul.
— Can Okar (@canokar) June 23, 2019
"The dollar traded at 5.717 lira Monday, up nearly 2%, hours after opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu swept to victory in #Istanbul" https://t.co/2GJJvEU4sa
— Diego Cupolo (@DiegoCupolo) June 24, 2019
Things Ekrem İmamoğlu’s victory is not:
❌ A “reversal” of the 1994 local election;
❌ The restoration of press freedom or judicial independence;
❌ The end of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s career;
❌ Evidence the “he who wins Istanbul, wins Turkey” mantra will play out in full. pic.twitter.com/jbvHvnivjW— JamesInTurkey.com (@jamesinturkey) June 23, 2019
This is #Imamoglu campaign slogans. Awesome!
H/T @KatiPiri
Uplifting #IstanbulElection pic.twitter.com/UHA79LnyOv— Nervana Mahmoud (@Nervana_1) June 23, 2019
Fireworks 💥 in Istanbul #Turkey celebrating Victory of Imamoglu as new mayor defeating AKP’s Erdogan candidate in re-run: pic.twitter.com/6opBWhY0CE
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) June 23, 2019
People in Tuzlucayir neighborhood of Mamak district in Ankara celebrate the victory of @ekrem_imamoglu Majority of celebrators are #HDP supporters, dancing with Kurdish music via @HayriDemir_ #IstanbulElection pic.twitter.com/M8xS51VaS8
— Mutlu Civiroglu (@mutludc) June 23, 2019
Tonight was a good night. The best night perhaps.
In the long term everything will be beautiful – we have to believe that.
But in the meantime, we still have to deal with the economy, S-400 crisis and deep cronyism.
Let's be ready.
— Can Okar (@canokar) June 23, 2019
Nervana 