OPPOSITION GAINS GROUND AGAINST ERDOGAN

Turkey’s opposition has dealt President Tayyip Erdogan a stinging blow by winning control of Istanbul in a re-run mayoral election, breaking his aura of invincibility and delivering a message from voters unhappy over his ever tighter grip on power.

Ekrem Imamoglu, pictured, of the secularist Republican People’s Party (CHP) secured 54.21 per cent of votes, the head of the High Election Board announced on Monday — a far wider victory margin than his narrow win three months ago.

The results are likely to trigger a new chapter in Turkish politics, now that the country’s top three cities now held by the opposition. Cracks could also emerge within Erdogan’s AKP.