Ekrem Imamoglu, who recently won Istanbul's mayorship and ended a 25-year domination by President Erdogan's party, has been ousted following a controversial decision by Turkey's electoral board to order a rerun of the vote. Imamoglu, who uncovered massive overspending by city officials during his short tenure, condemned the move as a 'blow to Turkey's democracy'.

Turkey's critical local elections may pose the biggest challenge yet to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with soaring inflation and a looming recession. Erdogan's AK Party risks losing control of major cities, including Istanbul, which has been a stronghold since Erdogan's mayoral win in 1994. The opposition CHP's candidate Ekrem Imamoglu criticizes the lack of social amenities and poverty in districts like Gungoren. The pro-Kurdish HDP, facing a crackdown and labeled as a terrorist group by Erdogan, is not contesting in western cities but urges supporters to vote for the opposition to defeat Erdogan. The HDP's decision could influence the tight race in Istanbul, with their voter base split between various political leanings. The elections are seen as a pivotal moment, with HDP's co-leader Gul Demir suggesting that a loss for the opposition could mean the end of elections in Turkey.

Turkey's currency collapse has led to increased interest rates, resulting in a severe recession in the country's construction industry, which was previously a key component of its economy. This downturn presents potential challenges for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.