Turkish mayor defects to Erdogan's party in opposition stronghold

In a significant political shift, the mayor of Turkey's most prominent opposition stronghold, Izmir, has defected to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party. This move has sparked protests and criticism, raising questions about the state of democracy in the country. The Justice and Development Party (AKP), which Erdogan leads, has never won a mayoral election in Izmir, a city of 4.5 million people known for its secular opposition.

Mayor Cemil Tugay joined the AKP in a ceremony on Wednesday, describing the party as "protector of the defenceless." Erdogan pledged his support to Tugay, stating that the AKP would support him "with all our resources in the effort to serve Izmir." The defection is part of a series of recent defections to the AKP, with critics accusing the ruling party of efforts to maintain control over city governance despite losing local elections in 2024.

Over 1,000 protesters took to the streets in Izmir, criticizing the move and chanting slogans against it, but they were met with security barricades and anti-riot police. Local professional groups questioned Tugay's legitimacy and his disrespect for the electorate's wishes. Tugay, who won the 2024 mayoralty with 48.97% of the vote for the Republican People's Party (CHP), had previously denied considering a switch to the AKP.

Despite threats from his wife and mother, he appeared alongside Erdogan at the ceremony. The defection has been described as part of a pressure campaign on Turkey's political opposition, which has faced arrests, lawsuits, and defections over the past two years. Tugay's predecessor, Tunc Soyer, who is also in prison on corruption charges, condemned the move.

The Turkish government denies any political motives in lawsuits against opposition figures, maintaining the independence of the judicial system.