A meme that’s gone viral in Turkish chat groups since the March 31 municipal elections reads, “Four things that people can’t choose: 1. place of birth 2. family 3. race, ethnicity 4. mayor of Istanbul.” It takes aim at Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seen as spearheading efforts to secure a rerun of the election in the country’s largest city Istanbul after losing it by a whisker to the main opposition. Erdogan’s reluctance to acknowledge defeat in the city of 16 million, where much of Turkey's wealth is generated, twinned with blatant discrimination against victorious Kurdish mayors have put the country on a knife’s edge with unpredictable consequences for its future.
His ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has demanded a recount of ballots in all of Istanbul, claiming fraud with little evidence. Erdogan has gone as far as to accuse the opposition of “organized crime.” The Supreme Electoral Council (YSK), the committee of judges that notionally has the final say, rejected the demand, allowing a recount in just eight districts. But it acquiesced to the AKP’s other demand — to recount spoiled ballots — which failed to reverse the outcome. The lead of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) narrowed to around 14,000 votes at the last count. The YSK is set to deliver provisional results of the elections on April 13.
