Turkish surgeon and politician, mayor of İzmir since 2024
Izmir’s CHP mayor Cemil Tugay has joined Erdogan’s AKP in a ceremony in Ankara. The move grants the AKP control of a city historically governed by the opposition. Protests occurred in Izmir with police barriers at Cumhuriyet Square as opposition figures denounced the defection. The mayor’s exit follows a crackdown on opposition figures and a broader realignment within Turkish politics.