From euronews · Sait Burak Utucu · · 1m
İzmir Mayor Joins Erdoğan's AK Party
Turkey's center-left mayor joins ruling party, shocking opposition.
In brief
Turkey's center-left mayor joins ruling party, shocking opposition. İzmir Mayor Cemil Tugay switched from CHP to AK Party, ending 27 years of left-wing mayors in the city. Originally reported by euronews.
Tugay joins AK Party
İzmir Mayor Cemil Tugay joined President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's AK Party on Wednesday.
Erdoğan welcomes Tugay
Erdoğan presented Tugay with an AK Party badge at Ankara headquarters and welcomed him in a speech to MPs.
Tugay's past pledges
Tugay previously described joining the AK Party as 'not even a one-in-a-million chance' and reversed his pledge.
“not even a one-in-a-million chance”
Tugay's political history
Tugay joined CHP in 2010, became İzmir metropolitan mayor in 2024, and won 48.97% of votes in March 2024 elections.
Tugay's threats and pressure
New Party leader Özgür Özel said Tugay faced threats, blackmail, and pressure to join AK Party.
Tugay's current status
Tugay is now the first right-wing mayor of Turkey's third-largest city in 27 years, with AK Party holding 39 seats in city council.
The one thing
İzmir Mayor Cemil Tugay switched from CHP to AK Party, ending 27 years of left-wing mayors in the city.
