The race is on for key cities as Turkey holds local elections in test of Erdogan’s popularity | News

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The race is on for control of Istanbul and other key cities as Turkey holds local elections.

Sunday’s vote is also a barometer of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s popularity as he seeks to win back control of key urban areas he lost to the opposition five years ago.

The main battlegrounds are Istanbul and the capital of Ankara, both of which Erdogan lost in 2019.

A strong showing for the 70-year-old leader would allow him to push for a new constitution, expanding and defining his legacy.

An opposition victory would help invigorate it after a scathing defeat in last year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

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