A Turkey of an Election for Erdogan: AKP losses, CHP wins, and İmamoğlu's rising star

A Turkey of an Election for Erdogan: AKP losses, CHP wins, and İmamoğlu's rising star

Author: The New Arab April 11, 2024 Duration: 31:38

The recent local elections in Turkey did not go to plan for President Erdogan. 

The voters sent a clear message to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party and the strongman president, when they voted in unprecedented numbers for the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). 

The CHP took control of Turkey's biggest cities and also managed to make significant headway into provinces that had been traditional AKP territory. 

Additionally, the AKP also lost out to the New Welfare Party (YRP), and Islamist party, who collected former AKP voters, who were angered by Erdogan's Gaza policy. 

The recent vote raises some big questions about the future of Turkey and Erdogan. 

This week on The New Arab Voice, we look at the recent Turkish elections. Why did the AKP and Erdogan do so badly? How big was the CHP victory? Has the path been set for Ekrem İmamoğlu to rise to the presidency? Can and will Erdogan run again? Will Erdogan start another crackdown? And what is the state of Turkish democracy?

Joining us this week, we speak with Gönül Tol (@gonultol), the founding director of the Middle East Institute’s (@MiddleEastInst) Turkey programme and a senior fellow with the Black Sea Program. Gönül's new book, Erdogan's War: A Strongman's Struggle at Home and in Syria, is out now. 

Also, Soner Cagaptay (@SonerCagaptay), the Beyer Family Senior Fellow and director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (@WashInstitute), and the author of A Sultan in Autumn.

his podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge). 

Theme music by Omar al-Fil. 

To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


From a London newsroom, The New Arab Voice reaches across continents, offering a distinct perspective on events and ideas shaping communities from the Middle East and North Africa to Asia and global diasporas. This isn't just a headlines recap. Each episode weaves together rigorous news analysis, cultural insight, and historical context, treating complex political shifts and societal transformations with the depth they deserve. You'll hear from people living the stories-artists, analysts, and everyday voices-providing a nuanced understanding that moves beyond simplistic narratives. The podcast reflects the rich tapestry of the regions it covers, finding the connections between past and present, policy and personal experience. For listeners seeking to move past soundbites and explore the interplay of power, identity, and heritage, The New Arab Voice provides essential listening. It’s where current affairs meet deep storytelling, all grounded in the extensive journalistic tradition of The New Arab. Tune in for conversations that challenge assumptions and illuminate the underreported, fostering a more informed and engaged perspective on a dynamic part of the world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The New Arab Voice
Podcast Episodes
Tilting on an Axis: Searching for an exit ramp for Iran and Israel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:44
The New Arab Voice podcast is back.This week we're looking at the fallout from the recent killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.Since the killings, tensions have increased, prompting…
The New Arab Weekly - May 30th, 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:59
While The New Arab Voice is on a break, we giving you the latest episode of The New Arab Weekly podcast. Don't forget to subscribe to get notified when a new episode drops. The New Arab Weekly on AppleThe New Arab Weekly…
The New Arab Weekly - May 23rd, 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:46
While The New Arab Voice is on holiday, we bring you another episode of The New Arab Weekly podcast.You can find all the links you'll need to subscribe to The New Arab Weekly here. This week on The New Arab Weekly podcas…
The New Arab Weekly - May 16th, 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:52
The New Arab Voice is on a break at the moment.While you wait, why not check out the latest episode of The New Arab Weekly. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts.This…
The New Arab Weekly - March 14th, 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:18
Welcome to the first episode of The New Arab Weekly. Each week, we take a look at some of the biggest stories of the week and examine what happened and why is it important. This week we look at the humanitarian crisis in…
Special Announcement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33
This week, we’ll be launching The New Arab Weekly, a brand new podcast, that will bring you a collection of biggest stories of the week. With help from the editorial and reporting teams at The New Arab in London, we’ll b…