Opposition candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu won Istanbul’s repeated mayoral election on 23 June, defeating former prime minister Binali Yıldırım by a substantially larger margin than in March.
What happened
The rerun followed the election board’s cancellation of İmamoğlu’s first victory. Turnout remained high, and preliminary results showed a clear outcome that Yıldırım conceded that night.
Why it mattered
The vote ended the governing party’s long control of Turkey’s largest city. Istanbul’s population, budget and political history made the mayoralty unusually influential.
Context and consequences
İmamoğlu’s victory elevated him nationally and dealt a major setback to President Erdoğan’s alliance, closing a dispute that had dominated politics for nearly three months.
Sources
Zeynep Aziz is a social-affairs specialist, writer and advocate with advanced academic qualifications in both Social Sciences and International Relations. Her multidisciplinary education has given her a strong understanding of society, public policy, human rights and the political forces shaping Turkey’s domestic and international development.
For many years, Zeynep has been actively engaged in social affairs and initiatives supporting the rights and well-being of Turkish citizens. Her work pays particular attention to social equality, democratic participation and the protection of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
Women’s rights remain central to her interests and advocacy. She works to raise awareness of the challenges faced by women in Turkey, including discrimination, violence, unequal opportunities and barriers to full participation in political, professional and social life. She strongly supports women’s empowerment, equal access to education and employment, and effective legal protection for women and girls.
Alongside her social work, Zeynep closely follows Turkey’s international relations and foreign policy. She takes a keen interest in Turkey’s relations with Europe, neighbouring countries and international institutions, as well as the impact of regional and global developments on Turkish society.
Through her writing and public engagement, Zeynep seeks to encourage informed discussion, strengthen respect for human rights and contribute to a fairer, more democratic and inclusive Turkey.
Zeynep Aziz
