Erdogan fights to hold Turkey’s cities in bitter election battle

Source:Reuters Date:30Mar2019

An in-depth study by Reuters about the importance of local electiosn for Erdogan and whether he canb retain his popularity with th voter. Economy turns out to be his biggest enemy.

“A crushing majority of people – including of course voters from the government party and its partners – think the economy is the number one problem in Turkey,” said political analyst Murat Yetkin.

Some polls give the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate in Ankara, Mansur Yavas, a lead over his AKP rival. In Istanbul, where the AKP is fielding former prime minister Binali Yildirim, the race appears close with the CHP.

Other cities may also be seized by the secularist opposition party.