Izmir Mayor Cemil Tugay defects to Erdogan's AKP, ending 27 years of opposition rule

Defection ceremony in Ankara

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Cemil Tugay into the Justice and Development Party (AKP) on 7 October 2026 during a parliamentary group meeting in Ankara. Erdogan pinned the party badge onto Tugay's lapel during the televised event at the AKP headquarters. Tugay had served as an independent since June 2026 after leaving the Republican People's Party (CHP). Addressing party members, Erdogan welcomed the new member to the municipal roster.

I welcome Izmir mayor Cemil Tugay, who is today joining the AKP family.

In his speech, Tugay described the AKP as the voice of the voiceless and pledged to revitalize the Aegean port city of 4.5 million residents.

Background of the split from the CHP

Tugay won the Izmir mayoral election in March 2024 with 48.97% of the vote, defeating the AKP candidate by approximately 314,000 votes. His transition places an AKP mayor at the helm of Izmir for the first time following 27 years of social democratic municipal leadership since 1999. The departure from the CHP followed a May 2026 court ruling that voided the party's 38th congress and reinstated former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Tugay resigned from the CHP on 18 June 2026, protesting internal changes that included replacing the Izmir provincial party chief. Deposed CHP leader Ozgur Ozel went on to establish the New Party on 24 July 2026 with 90 deputies, while Tugay chose to remain an independent. Tugay met with Erdogan on 30 September 2026 before formalizing the transfer a week later.

Judicial scrutiny and municipal takeovers

The defection follows widespread judicial action against opposition-led municipalities across Turkey. Since the local elections of March 2024, the ruling party has gained control of approximately 90 municipal administrations through defections or the appointment of state trustees. According to figures compiled by news website Diken, Turkish authorities have arrested six provincial mayors and 29 district mayors from the CHP. Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has remained detained since March 2025 on corruption allegations carrying potential sentences exceeding 2,300 years. In Izmir, state news agency Anadolu reported the detention of 56 people, including municipal staff, in the days leading up to the defection. Political analyst Berk Esen stated that many defecting officials make the switch out of fear rather than ideological alignment.

This is a continuation of AKP's strategy to reverse its major defeat in the 2024 local elections through force and repression.

City council balance and local reactions

Despite Tugay joining the ruling party, opposition factions retain numerical control in the Izmir municipal legislature. The CHP holds 91 seats in the city council, compared to 39 for the AKP and 11 held by independent members. Following the announcement, police deployed security barriers around Izmir's main square in anticipation of demonstrations called by opposition groups. Demonstrators and former supporters criticized Tugay for reversing past commitments, including statements made earlier in 2026 where he had rejected any possibility of joining the AKP. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also opened a criminal inquiry against Turkish actress Berna Lacin on charges of inciting public hatred after she commented on the defection on social media.