September 15, 2025

Neither the word “shocking” nor any of its synonyms, such as “appalling” or “distressing”, can properly describe the latest political developments in Türkiye. The İstanbul province has a Metropolitan Municipality and 39 county municipalities. In the March 2024 municipal elections, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) won the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and 26 county municipalities, whereas the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) won only 13.