Turkey's main opposition party has retained its control over key cities and made huge gains elsewhere in local elections, in a major upset to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had set his sights on retaking control of those urban areas.
With more than 90 per cent of ballot boxes counted, incumbent Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, of the Republican People's Party, or CHP, was leading by a wide margin in Turkey's largest city and economic hub, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.
Mansur Yavas, the mayor of the capital, Ankara, retained his seat with a stunning 25-point difference over his challenger, the results indicated.
In all, the CHP won the municipalities of 36 of Turkey's 81 provinces, according to Anadolu, making inroads into many strongholds of Erdogan's party.
It gained 37 per cent of the votes nationwide, compared with 36 per cent for the president's party, marking the CHP's greatest electoral victory since Erdogan came to power two decades ago.
Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu speaks to supporters after securing a second term. – AP
Erdogan acknowledged the electoral setback in a speech delivered from the balcony of the presidential palace, saying his party had suffered "a loss of altitude" across Turkey.
The people delivered a "message" that his party will "analyse" by engaging in "courageous" self-criticism, he said.
"Unfortunately, nine months after our victory in the May 28 elections, we could not get the result we wanted in the local election test," Erdogan added.
"We will correct our mistakes and redress our shortcomings."
He vowed to press ahead with an economic program introduced last year that aims to combat inflation.
Regardless of the results, Erdogan said "the winner of this election is primarily our democracy".
"We will not disrespect our nation's decision under any circumstances."
The vote was seen as a barometer of Erdogan's popularity as he sought to win back control of key urban areas he lost to the opposition in elections five years ago.
The CHP's victory in Ankara and Istanbul in 2019 had shattered Erdogan's aura of invincibility.
The main battleground for the 70-year-old Turkish president was Istanbul, a city of 16 million people where he was born and raised and where he began his political career as mayor in 1994.
President Erdogan casts his vote in Istanbul. – Reuters
The result came as a boost for the opposition, which was left divided and demoralized after a defeat to Erdogan and his ruling Islamic-oriented Justice and Development Party, or AKP, in last year's presidential and parliamentary elections.
"The voters decided to establish a new political order in Turkey," CHP leader Ozgur Ozel told a crowd of jubilant supporters.
"Today, the voters decided to change the 22-year-old picture in Turkey and open the door to a new political climate in our country."
A large crowd, meanwhile, gathered outside Ankara City Hall to celebrate Yavas' victory. "Ankara is proud of you!" supporters chanted.
Sinan Ulgen, director of the Istanbul-based Edam think tank, said "the surprising outcome" was due to voters wanting to punish the ruling party over the "depth of an economic malaise." Skyrocketing inflation has left many Turkish households struggling to afford basic goods.
AKP supporters opted to stay away from the ballot stations or voted for other parties, Ulgen said.
"Turnout was relatively low compared to past elections," he said. "There were cross-party shifts in the vote, which did not happen in the nationals elections because of stronger ideological attachments.
"This time around the economy prevailed over identity."
Murat Kurum, mayoral candidate of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party (AKP). – Reuters
Some 61 million people, including more than a million first-time voters, were eligible to cast ballots for all metropolitan municipalities, town and district mayorships as well as neighbourhood administrations.
Turnout was around 76 per cent, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency, compared to 87 per cent last year.
Some 594,000 security personnel were on duty across the country to ensure the vote goes smoothly. Nevertheless, one person was killed and 11 others hurt in the city of Diyarbakir where a dispute over the election of a neighbourhood administrator turned violent, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. At least six people were also injured in fighting that erupted in the nearby province of Sanliurfa.
Imamoglu won 50.6 per cent of the votes in Istanbul, while AKP candidate Murat Kurum, a former urbanisation and environment minister, received 40.5 per cent, according to Anadolu. Opinion polls had pointed to a close race between the two.
Imamoglu, a popular figure touted as a possible future challenger to Erdogan, ran without the support of some of the parties that helped him to victory in 2019.
Both the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party and the nationalist IYI Party fielded their own candidates in the race.
“Istanbul, the 16 million (population of Istanbul) won. 16 million Istanbulites won," Imamoglu told supporters. "Congratulations, congratulations.
"There are no losers in this election, you know that right?”
“The nation gives orders and instructions, a person does not give orders. The rulers receive instructions from the nation.
"The period of tutelage of one person is over as of today. The Republic and democracy have said ‘full speed ahead’ as of today.”
A six-party opposition alliance that was led by CHP disintegrated after it failed to oust Erdogan in last year's election, unable to capitalize on the economic crisis and the government's initially poor response to last year's devastating earthquake that killed more than 53,000 people.
Ulgen said the result has thrust Imamoglu into the role of possible leader of the opposition to challenge Erdogan for the presidency in 2028.
Candidate Mansur Yavas casts his vote. – AP
"This outcome has certainly been a watershed for Imamoglu," he said. "He will emerge as the natural candidate of the opposition for the next round of presidential elections.
A new religious-conservative party, the New Welfare Party, or YRP, appeared to have attracted votes from AKP supporters who have been disillusioned with the government's handling of the economy.
In Turkey's mainly Kurdish-populated southeast, the DEM Party was on course to win many of the municipalities but it's unclear whether it would be allowed to retain them. In previous years, Erdogan's government removed elected pro-Kurdish mayors from office for alleged links to Kurdish militants and replaced them with state-appointed trustees.
Analysts said a strong showing for Erdogan's party would have hardened his resolve to usher in a new constitution — one that would reflect his conservative values and allow him to rule beyond 2028 when his current term ends.
Erdogan, who has presided over Turkey for more than two decades — as prime minister since 2003 and president since 2014 — has been advocating for a new constitution that would put family values at the forefront.