Istanbul mayor challenges AKP government on visit to Erdogan’s home province

Ekrem Imamoglu of the Republican People’s Party took his campaign to Rize on the Black Sea coast during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
A man smokes while standing in front of banners and posters showing the portrait of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 10, 2017, in Rize, Turkey. - Chris McGrath/Getty Images
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Andrew Wilks
@AndyWilks61

ISTANBUL — The opposition mayor of Istanbul has stirred up controversy during the Ramadan holiday with a visit to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s home province on the Black Sea coast. 

Ekrem Imamoglu, who won a landslide victory for the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in 2019, was greeted by cheering crowds as he arrived in Rize for the Eid al-Fitr break. 

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