The West is testing the power of Erdogan .. The Turks are holding their breath as the counting begins

The polling stations across Turkey closed Sunday afternoon after voters cast their ballots in a local election that was sharply polarized and a new test for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The polling stations immediately began counting votes and the results are expected to start by 9:00 p.m. local time.

The Turkish street is holding its breath, awaiting the results of the first local elections in the country, after the adoption of the presidential system, and following an economic crisis plunged the Turkish lira to unprecedented levels.

The Turkish president took his weight in the elections and pushed his prime minister to compete for the post of mayor of Istanbul, which has political and cultural symbolism in Turkey and the Muslim world.

The election is not just an internal test for Erdogan, but it puts him at stake in his relations with American and Western leaders.

According to the media, Western capitals are waiting to announce the Turkish results to see whether it will result in the weakness of Erdogan's position or the continued dominance of the political scene.

According to the Washington Post, the Trump administration hopes that the elections will produce a lull that allows for discussion of controversial issues with the Erdogan government, such as the purchase of Russian missiles and the field situation in Turkey.

The Europeans are also waiting for the results of local elections in Turkey, and whether they will lead to a change in the country's influence.

Tough test
Some international media have been concerned that Erdogan is facing a difficult test and is about to lose important cities in the country.

"The elections are taking place" at a time when Turkey is facing its first economic downturn in 10 years, a record inflation and increasing unemployment, AFP reported.

"These elections are a test for Erdogan after winning all elections since the arrival of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2002," the report said.

While Erdogan stressed that the "survival of the nation" at stake and called for "burying its enemies at the ballot box," urged the opposition to seize these last elections before the maturity of 2023 to punish the Authority for its economic policy.

In an indication of the importance of these elections in political terms, Erdogan participated in more than 100 election festivals in 50 days and delivered at least 14 speeches on Friday and Saturday in Istanbul.

Fierce battles
Twelve political parties are competing in the elections. Fighting between the AKP and the MHP, the People's Alliance of the Republican People's Party and the Good Party, and the support of the Democratic Peoples Party and the Party of Happiness, are raging.

"Erdogan has dominated Turkey's political landscape for more than 16 years, thanks to factors including strong economic growth and has become the country's most popular leader, but also the most divisive in recent history," a Reuters report said.

"However, Erdogan may receive an election blow as polls suggest his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) may lose control of the capital, Ankara, and even Istanbul, the country's largest city," it said.