March 2019 Istanbul mayoral election

A regional election authority in the northeastern city of Ardahan has decided to annul the recent elections in the city and call for a renewal following objections from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Following the local elections held on March 31, multiple parties have challenged various results, particularly in constituencies where the race was tightly contested, sparking a flurry of demands for recounts and calls for renewed elections.

In Istanbul, both the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) have raised objections.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pledged to "reclaim Istanbul" for his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the upcoming local elections scheduled for next weekend.

Turgut Altınok, the current mayor of Ankara's Keçiören district, has been officially unveiled as the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) metropolitan mayoral candidate for the capital.

The announcement came today as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan revealed the AKP's candidates for 48 cities, including 17 metropolitan areas.

In a move aimed at reclaiming control over Istanbul's municipal governance, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is relying on a tendency survey among party officials to shape its choice of candidate for next March's local elections.

Two main contenders of the Istanbul rerun elections, Binali Yıldırım from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Ekrem İmamoğlu from the Republican People's Party (CHP), agreed on a live TV debate that will be aired by all channels on June 16, a week before the polls.

Binali Yıldırım, Istanbul mayoral candidate for the Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), says he is amenable to a joint TV interview with the main opposition candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu.

The Istanbul provincial election board announced on May 27 the list of candidates who will run for the renewed June 23 elections.