In a significant political shift for Turkey’s third-largest city, the mayor of Izmir has defected to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The move, which occurred on Wednesday at the party’s headquarters in Ankara, marks the first time the western port city has been led by the AKP after more than two decades of governance by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
During a ceremony where President Erdogan pinned the party badge on his lapel, Mayor Cemil Tugay delivered a brief address. He characterized the AKP as the “voice of the voiceless” and committed to rebuilding and revitalizing Izmir in his new role as the city’s first AKP mayor. Tugay had previously secured the mayoralty in the 2024 election with 49% of the vote.
The defection follows a period of internal turmoil within the CHP, which was impacted by a legal case that led to the removal of its leadership in May. While many party members resigned in the wake of that court decision to join the New Party—which was established by deposed CHP leader Ozgur Ozel and has since surpassed the CHP as the largest opposition bloc—Tugay had initially remained an independent, previously denying any intentions to align with the AKP. He officially resigned from the CHP in June.
Despite Tugay’s switch, the municipal assembly in Izmir remains under the control of a New Party majority. The announcement prompted immediate public backlash, with opposition groups calling for protests and police establishing barriers in Izmir’s main square on Wednesday.
The political landscape in Turkey remains tense as municipalities held by the CHP have faced a series of criminal investigations since 2024, a period during which the party had strengthened its influence in major urban centers like Istanbul and Ankara. These investigations have resulted in the imprisonment of hundreds of CHP members. Among the most notable figures affected is Istanbul’s metropolitan mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is widely considered the primary opposition challenger to Erdogan for the upcoming presidential election. Imamoglu has been incarcerated since March of last year and faces multiple legal cases, including a primary charge of municipal corruption that carries a potential sentence exceeding 2,300 years. While government officials maintain that the judiciary operates independently, critics argue these legal actions are politically motivated efforts to undermine the opposition.
