As CHP’s İmamoğlu leads in Istanbul’s elections, AKP blacks out screens at headquarters
Following preliminary results indicating a landslide victory for incumbent Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in Turkey’s local elections, the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Istanbul Provincial Headquarters blacked out their screens in front of the building.
Ferhat Yaşar / Gazete Duvar
The provincial headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) began to black out the screens it has propped in front of the building as initial results point to the victory of incumbent Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu.
A substantial stage was erected in front of the provincial building, flanked by large screens on both sides in the wake of a potential victory by AKP's candidate Murat Kurum.
Demoralized AKP supporters decided to leave the premises after the blackout.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reportedly planned to watch the election from Istanbul’s headquarters but decided against it following the probable loss for AKP’s candidate Kurum.
As results start to indicate countrywide gains for the CHP, İmamoğlu holds a lead of around 50% in the Turkish metropole, while Kurum trails behind with 41%, according to data from the state-run Anadolu Agency and with slightly over 40% of the ballot boxes opened.
(English version by Wouter Massink)