Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay Joins Erdogan's Ruling AKP

Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay joined Turkey's ruling AKP on Oct. 7, 2026, after winning office as the centre-left CHP candidate in March 2024. President Erdogan announced the move in Ankara and gave Tugay a party pin. Izmir, a city of 4.5 million governed by social democrats since 1999, voted 49% for Tugay against 37% for AKP.