Turkey’s Supreme Election Council annulled the March 2019 Istanbul mayoral result on 6 May and ordered a new vote, overturning opposition candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu’s narrow victory.

What happened

The governing AK Party alleged irregularities after losing the country’s largest city. The board focused on the appointment of some polling officials, while critics argued the evidence did not justify cancelling the result.

Why it mattered

The ruling deepened concern about electoral institutions and prolonged uncertainty in Istanbul. It transformed a local contest into a national debate over democratic standards.

Context and consequences

A new election was scheduled for 23 June. The rerun ultimately delivered a much wider victory to İmamoğlu.

Sources

• Reuters
• The Guardian