Narrative thread · 1 event
Turkey opposition crackdown
Where things stand
Cemil Tugay, mayor of Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city and an opposition stronghold, joined President Erdoğan's AKP on Wednesday, 7 October. The Guardian reports he had vowed never to switch sides, and that the move comes amid a political crackdown.
Turkey's government under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his AKP faces opposition parties that hold major cities such as Izmir. The Guardian describes a political crackdown on opposition figures, in which officials have been pressed or have chosen to change sides.
Timeline in detail
Thursday, 8 October 2026 · GeopoliticsIzmir mayor joins Erdoğan's party
Cemil Tugay, mayor of Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city and an opposition stronghold, joined President Erdoğan's AKP on Wednesday. The Guardian reports that he had vowed never to switch sides, and that the move comes amid a political crackdown.