터키 이스탄불 시장 재선거서 여당 패배...에르도안 정권 타격
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suffered the biggest defeat of his political career as the opposition party candidate for mayor of Istanbul won the re-election.
The result puts an end to Erdogan and his party's 25-year dominance in Turkey's largest city.
Kan Hyeong-woo reports.
Turkey's main opposition party has won Istanbul's re-run mayoral election with its candidate Ekrem Imamoglu receiving 54 percent of the votes.
Imamoglu and the Republican People's Party have dealt a huge blow to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as he, citing voting irregularities, called for the annulment of the previous election which was also won by Imamoglu.
"This society will be greeted with freedoms. This society will also fix wrongdoing, you will see. I have faith in our people. I also believe that people have faith in democracy. I thank our President Erdogan and my rival (AK Party Istanbul candidate Binali Yildirim) who congratulated me."
Imamoglu's supporters took to the streets of Istanbul to celebrate what they saw as justice being served after the original victory by the Republican People's Party was annulled in March.
"We knew the outcome would be like this. Imamoglu has been the winner since the beginning but he was wronged and they (those who wronged him) got the answer."
With the ruling party still controlling 25 of Istanbul's 39 districts and a majority in the municipal assembly, Imamoglu will need their cooperation to govern the city.
Nevertheless... Imamoglu's victory marks a new beginning in Turkey's political landscape, because just like Erdogan, who has ruled the country since 2003 both as Prime Minister and now President, has stated it before - 'whoever wins Istanbul, wins Turkey'.
Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News
