Protests in major Turkish city after mayor defects to Erdogan party

On Wednesday, the mayor of Izmir, Cemil Tugay, switched allegiance from his opposition party to the ruling AKP, marking a significant symbolic triumph for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan welcomed Tugay at a parliamentary meeting in Ankara, where the mayor was handed a party pin, symbolizing his new affiliation. The mayorship of Izmir, a secular city on Turkey's Aegean coast, had been under opposition control for a long time, with the CHP (CHristian Democratic Society Party) being the primary opposition party.

However, the AKP's gain in Izmir does not equate to a majority on the city's metropolitan municipal council, which is still largely held by the opposition. The defection of Tugay, who had been the mayor since April 2024, comes as Turkey's opposition faces a crackdown, including politically motivated arrests and lawsuits targeting its mayors and elected officials.

Since the opposition's March 2024 local election victory, there have been numerous defections to the AKP, totaling at least 17 opposition mayors, as reported by the independent Diken news website. Tugay's decision to join the AKP was anticipated after weeks of rumors, following a controversial court ruling that led to his resignation from the CHP in June.

Tugay expressed his love for Izmir during his entrance into the AKP headquarters, where supporters chanted and cheered for him.