AKP pushes district election in Istanbul to reclaim mayoral control

Turkey's ruling AKP is leveraging a district-level election in Istanbul as a mechanism to regain control of the city, following its loss of the mayoralty to the opposition in 2019. The move signals an intensifying political struggle over Turkey's largest city, with implications for national politics ahead of future elections. The outcome and legality of this maneuver remain uncertain, but it reflects Erdoğan's strategy to consolidate power.