Izmir mayor switches to Erdogan's ruling party

Cemil Tugay, the mayor of Izmir, has officially joined President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The move, finalized at a ceremony in Ankara on October 7, 2026, marks a major political shift, as Izmir has long served as a historic stronghold for the secular opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). Tugay, who had been elected in March 2024 with 49% of the vote, resigned from the CHP in June before formally aligning with the AKP.

This transition grants the AKP control over Turkey's third-largest city without an electoral victory, a feat the party failed to achieve in two decades of national dominance. While Tugay stated that the move aims to foster harmony between local and central government, the opposition has faced increasing pressure recently, with reports indicating that dozens of other mayors across the country are currently in jail awaiting trial. The switch underscores a significant symbolic and political realignment in the region, as the CHP continues to hold 28 of Izmir’s 30 district municipalities despite the loss of the metropolitan leadership.