Scaling the castle: CHP dominance challenged in İzmir, Turkey’s secular stronghold

AKP İzmir mayoral candidate Hamza Dağ greets residents Thursday. © AKP

İZMİR — “Look at those potholes,” Ömer Cenkli, an İzmir taxi driver in his 30s, said while driving in Bornova, one of the province’s central districts.

Moving slowly in heavy traffic on Abdi İpekçi Street, the car made a clunking sound.

“In the last six months, I replaced the steering box twice,” Cenkli said. “The sound you heard came from there. It looks like a third visit to the mechanic is around the corner. That’s why I want a change in this city.”

Cenkli is one of several İzmir residents who told Turkey recap they wanted a shift in city management. Located on the country’s western coast, İzmir is often called the “castle” of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) for its long-time support of secular politics.

Yet, in Sunday’s local elections, the CHP will face diverse competitors that may not only splinter the vote, but also threaten to snatch away some districts and possibly the mayorship.

City residents, politicians and experts told Turkey recap the CHP’s dominance in İzmir was no longer guaranteed, and a shift in voting patterns could crack the door open for an ascent of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the province.

The AKP challenge

Leading the push for change is AKP İzmir mayoral candidate Hamza Dağ.