Turkey: 45 mayors defect to AKP amid crackdown; Izmir mayor joins Erdogan

In a significant political realignment, 45 mayors in Turkey have switched allegiance to President Erdogan's AKP over recent months, including the Kemalist mayor of Izmir, Tugay. This follows arrests of opposition mayors, suggesting a coordinated pressure campaign to consolidate AKP control ahead of elections. The defections weaken the opposition's local governance base and signal a shift in Turkey's political landscape.