Winds of change in Turkey? Decrypting the recent local elections Women Leaders

The 31 March local elections in Turkey were a great surprise. Pre election polling suggested the AKP party of President Erdogan was on course to win, but instead the main opposition CHP party swept up an impressive number of cities and towns, notably the ten major cities of the country, which collectively represent over 74% of the National GDP. This is a massive shift in the country's political landscape, signalling a potential call for deep change. Put another way: has Turkey reached a critical juncture after two decades under the Erdogan regime?
Zeynep Atikkan, senior Turkish journalist, joins Ilana Bet-El in a discussion of this and many other questions about the Turkish electoral and political landscape. From economic concerns, the Kurdish issue and generational shifts to civil society engagement, women's roles, protests, media influence, and evolving political dynamics — the underpinning realities of Turkish politics are revealed and discussed, not least the weakened position of President Erdogan and his AKP party.
Mentions and further resources
Zeynep’s three booksSinem Dedetaş, the new elected mayor of Üsküdar in Istanbul Twitter“Turkiye has has elected youngest Major in its history” Middle East Monitor“Turkey gains new wave of female mayors after opposition’s poll success” ReutersZeynep TwitterZeynep Atikkan LinkedIn
Recorded on 4 April 2024
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Credits
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