One killed, 12 injured during Turkey elections

Erdogan battles for control of Istanbul

FE Team | Published: March 31, 2024 22:10:42

DIYARBAKIR, Mar 31 (AFP/Reuters): Clashes between two groups in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast during Sunday's local elections left one dead and 12 people wounded, a local official told AFP.
The incident that took place in Agaclidere village 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the city of Diyarbakir turned violent and included guns, the official said. One bullet hit the car of a local journalist.
Turks voted on Sunday in municipal elections focused on President Tayyip Erdogan's bid to reclaim control of Istanbul from rival Ekrem Imamoglu, who aims to reassert the opposition as a political force after bitter election defeats last year.
Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu dealt Erdogan and his AK Party the biggest electoral blow of two decades in power with his win in the 2019 vote. The president struck back in 2023 by securing re-election and a parliament majority with his nationalist allies.
Sunday's results could now reinforce Erdogan's control of NATO-member Turkey, or signal change in the major emerging economy's divided political landscape. An Imamoglu win is seen fuelling expectations of him becoming a future national leader.
Engineer Murat Ercan, 60, said he disapproved of Erdogan playing an active role in campaigning for his party ahead of the elections, believing the president should be impartial.
"Ekrem Imamoglu is the sort of president we long for, with his constructive and smiling nature, embracing everyone," Ercan said after casting his ballot in Istanbul.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) in eastern Turkey and elsewhere at 8 a.m., with more than 61 million people registered to vote. Voting ends at 5 p.m. and initial results are expected by 10 p.m. (1900 GMT).