Mayor of Turkish opposition stronghold Izmir defects to Erdoğan’s party
Cemil Tugay, the mayor of the Turkish opposition stronghold Izmir, has defected to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling AKP party. The move has sparked public outrage and is seen as a significant political victory for Erdoğan amid a broader crackdown on opposition officials.
Why it matters
This defection weakens the opposition's influence in a major urban center and signals the increasing pressure on political rivals in Turkey.
Cemil Tugay (right), the mayor of Izmir, waves next to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish president, in Ankara./Getty Images Cemil Tugay (right), the mayor of Izmir, waves next to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish president, in Ankara./Getty Images Turkey Mayor of Turkish opposition stronghold Izmir defects to Erdoğan’s party Cemil Tugay joins ruling AKP after vowing he would never switch sides in boost for Turkish president
Prefer the Guardian on Google The mayor of Izmir, Turkey’s third city and an opposition stronghold, has defected to the ruling AKP in a move hailed by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan , the Turkish president.
Turkey’s opposition is battling an increasingly intense crackdown, with a barrage of what observers say are politically motivated arrests and lawsuits targeting its mayors and elected officials.
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