Mayor of Turkish opposition stronghold defects to Erdogan's party

A stronghold of Turkey’s opposition has fallen to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party for the first timeISTANBUL -- The mayor of Turkey’s third-largest city defected to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’s ruling party on Wednesday, giving it the mayoralty of the opposition stronghold for the first time.Izmir had been led by the opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, for more than two decades until Mayor Cemil Tugay joined Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, or AKP, at a ceremony at its headquarters in Ankara.In a brief speech after Erdogan pinned a party badge on his lapel, Tugay described the AKP as the “voice of the voiceless” and pledged to revitalize and rebuild Izmir as the western port city’s first AKP mayor.Tugay, who won the 2024 election with 49% of votes, resigned from the CHP in June after the party was hit by a legal case that removed its leadership.The court’s decision in May saw droves of CHP members leave, with many joining the New Party established by deposed CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, which surpassed the CHP as the largest opposition party. Tugay, however, remained as an independent and denied plans to join the AKP.Izmir’s municipal assembly remains...