[HIGHLIGHTS] Municipal elections in Turkey: the shadow of Recep Tayyip Erdogan hangs over the battle of Istanbul

Turkish municipal elections take place on Sunday March 31 in Istanbul. Outgoing mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, of the social-democratic CHP party, is neck and neck.

Behind this election hangs the shadow of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A reconquest of this megalopolis lost in 2019 by his party, the AKP, for the benefit of Imamoglu would mark a symbolic and personal victory for the head of state. The Islamist party takes advantage of the resources made available by the State, particularly the media.