On June 23, Istanbul residents cast a ballot to elect their mayor for the second time in the last three months. Even though the ruling elite’s de-facto control of state institutions secured a re-vote for their candidate, the main opposition party’s candidate once again won the elections by gaining even larger public support – 54 % to 45 %. What these results tell us is that the government’s push to overturn the elections had an inverse effect by undermining its political legitimacy.
Having won six parliamentary elections, four local elections, two presidential elections, and three constitutional referenda, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) have been dominating Turkey’s politics over the last seventeen years. Even though Erdogan’s regime has harnessed strong public support during these years, his tightening grip on power has undoubtedly played a role in maintaining these electoral victories.
By repressing dissent, taking over major media outlets, curbing associational rights, and abusing state-resources for partisan goals, the incumbent rule has steadily undermined political contestation in the country. When these authoritarian measures did not suffice to guarantee their victory, the ruling elite have also resorted to manipulating election results in various ways.
