Risk of election defeat raises huge questions for Turkey’s Erdogan

Source:Financial Times Date:22Jun2019

Great reporting job from Laura Pitel

But in private, party officials admit that their own research shows that Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition challenger who won a narrow and disputed victory in the original March contest, will not only triumph again but will expand his lead.

A second defeat would raise huge questions for Mr Erdogan, who cares deeply about the city that 25 years ago launched his own political career. How he responds could have wide ramifications not only for Turkey’s economy and its diplomatic relations, but also for the future of his own party at a time of deep discontent.