Erdogan Extends Rule to Third Decade, Sets Sights on Istanbul

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, won the election on Sunday, securing a third decade of his presidency. But Istanbul was left out of his victory and intends to retake it in the March 2024 municipal elections.

Erdogan told a gathering of cheering fans on a campaign bus outside his Istanbul home that he wanted to regain the city. He urged his followers to be ready for the next municipal elections so they might win both the Uskudar district and Istanbul city.

Erdogan wants a mayor from his Justice and Development (AK) Party to rule Istanbul, according to a CNN report.

Istanbul was ruled by Islamist groups for 25 years, first, the Welfare Party, of which Erdogan was a member, and afterward, the AK Party. With Ekrem Imamoglu as its candidate, the secular Republican People's Party (CHP) did triumph in the 2019 mayoral election. Erdogan was Istanbul's mayor from 1994 to 1998 before becoming prime minister in 2003.

Istanbul, the most extensive and most populated city in Turkey, has enormous significance as the historic capital of the Ottoman Empire. It is the country's economic center and home to roughly 16 million people.

Erdogan Vows To Bring Down High Inflation Rate

Aside from retaking Istanbul, Erdogan also wants to resolve the nation's urgent inflation problem. In his victory speech in Ankara, he stressed that fixing the issue and making up for growing prices' welfare losses was vital, per Al Jazeera. The Turkish president demonstrated confidence in improving the situation and lowering inflation by mentioning the present interest rate and pledging improvements.

Erdogan's unorthodox interest rate decreases caused a currency crisis in late 2021, resulting in an 85.51% inflation rate, the highest in 24 years. In March, inflation dropped to 50.51% due to a good base impact and a stable lira, per Reuters. Turkey's annual inflation rate fell to 43.68% in April, according to official figures.

Istanbul's LGBTQ Community Fears Erdogan Rule

However, Erdogan's continuing regime has made Istanbul's LGBTQ community anxious. Yasemin Oz, a lesbian lawyer in Istanbul, expressed concern over the president's remarks from his victory speech, in which Erdogan emphasized the value of family and forbade LGBTQ people from joining his party.

Erdogan often insulted the LGBTQ community throughout his campaign, using slurs and calling them "deviants," The New York Times reported.

During the Turkey election campaign period, gay rights and freedoms became an essential topic. Erdogan accused his opponents of backing homosexuals to win conservative votes.