ISTANBUL: Turkey’s main opposition scored a major blow against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month when it won control of Istanbul, but now faces a wounded government reluctant to relinquish power.
With Erdogan expected to stay in office until at least 2023, the new mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), knows he must find a way to work with the president.
But the signs are mixed.
After Erdogan’s ruling AKP party lost Turkey’s largest city in a rerun vote on June 23, the president congratulated Imamoglu and described the vote as the “will of the people.”
But just days later his government moved to strip Imamoglu of key mayoral powers of patronage.
The show of strength raises strategic questions for Imamoglu, who has vowed to work “in harmony” with Erdogan but is also talked about as a future presidential challenger.
Having called for a meeting with Erdogan to address the urgent problems of the 15-million-strong metropolis, the new mayor has so far remained fairly vague about his plans.
He has promised to crack down on alleged lavish spending at the municipality and bring in international-standard auditors to assure transparency, warning that the city faces bankruptcy if urgent action is not taken.
Imamoglu also said he would create green belts in Istanbul, and return trees and grass to Taksim square in the heart of the city — echoing the demands of protesters who triggered a mass anti-government movement over the redevelopment of neighboring Gezi park in 2013.
Urban planners remain skeptical about his promises.
“Istanbul’s green space problem is not only about hostility to nature — it’s also a question of the economy,” said Sedat Durel, environment engineer at the Chamber of Environmental Engineers.
Durel said nothing will change without a fundamental change in the current governing mentality, which favors mass commercial development over natural spaces.
Imamoglu, who started out in his family’s lucrative real estate and restaurant business in western Istanbul, does not appear to have an obvious background to shift that mindset.
“Although there is hope it will not continue this way, we have yet to hear anything concrete,” said Durel.
After failing to mount serious challenges in elections for decades, Turkey’s main opposition has been revitalized by Imamoglu’s win.
Aside from the sky-high expectations, his biggest challenge may be overcoming a municipal council dominated by AKP members and its right-wing ally, the MHP, which together control 25 of 39 city districts.
Ege Seckin, an analyst at IHS Markit, said Imamoglu’s new job would be an “uphill struggle.”
“The government will go to great lengths to impede his work, seeking to validate their long-standing claim that the AKP is the only game in town when it comes to delivering basic services, and that all alternatives, including the CHP, are incompetent,” Seckin told AFP.
The first sign of trouble came immediately after the June 23 election, when Erdogan’s government issued a circular shifting the power to assign managers of municipal companies from the mayor to the council.
“We were informed of a change in legislation,” Imamoglu told reporters this month, warning against “political maneuvering” to limit his power.
The first municipal council meeting chaired by Imamoglu on July 8 — which was aired live, as part of his efforts at greater transparency — nonetheless saw positive messages from the AKP rank and file.
One AKP councilor, Tevfik Goksu, assured that the party would avoid “negative” attitudes and support any project that serves Istanbul.
The CHP remains unconvinced.
“Do I expect serious obstacles on some areas? Yes, I do, given their power and majority in the assembly,” said Tarik Balyali, a CHP spokesman in the municipal council.
But he warned the public would also blame the AKP if the party tried to undermine Imamoglu’s efforts to improve municipal services.
Many opponents of Erdogan hope Imamoglu can use the platform of Istanbul to mount a serious challenge at the national level — just as the president himself did in the 1990s.
But Imamoglu’s prospects depend not only on getting results in the city, but also on his ability to maintain support from divergent opposition groups including secular Turks and Kurdish opposition voters, and maybe even AKP dissidents, said Seckin.
“This was a relatively easier task for a municipal election, but a national-level competition is likely to be more vicious, and the fault lines separating different opposition factions are likely to matter far more,” he said.
Istanbul’s new mayor Ekrem Imamoglu faces tough road ahead after landslide win
Istanbul’s new mayor Ekrem Imamoglu faces tough road ahead after landslide win
- Ekrem Imamoglu must find a way to work with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
- The president has congratulated opposition leader Imamoglu and described the vote as the ‘will of the people’
Meeting Trump, Turkiye’s Erdogan hails Iran-Israel truce
- The Turkish president “expressed his satisfaction with the ceasefire achieved between Israel and Iran through President Trump’s efforts
THE HAGUE: Turkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of a NATO summit late Tuesday, hailing the Iran-Israel ceasefire and urging “close dialogue” to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Turkish president “expressed his satisfaction with the ceasefire achieved between Israel and Iran through President Trump’s efforts, hoping it would be permanent, and emphasized the importance of close dialogue... in peacefully resolving the Russia-Ukraine war,” a statement from his office said.
Lebanon’s revival hangs in the balance as conflict flares between Israel and Iran
- As nightlife returns and tourists arrive, a fragile sense of hope grows — but one missile could shatter Lebanon’s recovery
- With Hezbollah weakened and a new government in power, Lebanon teeters between a long-awaited revival and renewed conflict
BEIRUT: Colorful fireworks, sparkler-topped champagne bottles, and the occasional ballistic missile became regular features of nights out at Lebanon’s many rooftop bars and nightclubs last week, as Iran and Israel exchanged fire — providing revelers with a grim and surreal light show.
Social media has been flooded with videos of young people defiantly celebrating life as missiles arc across the night sky. This blend of dark humor and fatalistic resilience reflects a deeper yearning among Lebanese to break free from the endless cycles of conflict.
“The Lebanese love to celebrate as a way of compensating for all the crises they have endured,” Jean Beiruti, secretary-general of the Tourism Syndicates Union, told Arab News.
“Perhaps the clearest proof of this is the widely shared clips of wedding parties and nightclub gatherings even as missiles flew across Lebanon’s skies.”
This summer was meant to mark a renaissance for Lebanon — a glimmer of hope after years of economic collapse and political paralysis.
A new president and prime minister, untainted by the corruption of their predecessors, had taken office. Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed armed group, had been severely weakened after a devastating war with Israel.
Signs of revival had begun to appear. Tourists from across the region — notably Emiratis — were returning, choosing Lebanon as their summer retreat.
The familiar hum of vibrant nightlife had returned, and Lebanon’s famed hospitality was once again on full display, suggesting the country might finally be stepping out from the shadow of turmoil.
Yet the juxtaposition of festivity and fragility has never felt starker.
As tourists and locals embraced the promise of a carefree summer, the grim reality of regional tensions sometimes broke through.
Rocket fire streaking across Lebanon’s skies served as a chilling reminder of the ever-present threat at its borders.
“The regional developments had a limited impact on the start of Lebanon’s tourism season, particularly concerning flight bookings,” said Beiruti, reflecting on whether the Israel-Iran conflict had harmed tourist footfall.
“While all June bookings were canceled, July reservations remain unaffected so far. Tourism establishments in Lebanon are working flexibly with customers, offering incentives to maintain bookings and avoid cancellations.”
He is nonetheless hopeful that the setback will be temporary.
“If the security situation stabilizes and flights return to normal, things will go back to the way they were,” he said. “Lebanese expatriates will return with their families to spend the summer in Lebanon. They come every year regardless.
“We have already seen the beginning of Gulf tourism, with visitors arriving from the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, as well as tourists from Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. These visitors never stopped coming to Lebanon.”
Nevertheless, the wider turmoil in the region has complicated Lebanon’s return to normalcy. Travel advisories issued by Western governments have discouraged artists and tourists from taking part in the country’s summer festivals.
Most notably, the Beiteddine Festival has postponed its program for a second year in a row.
FASTFACTS
- Despite regional tensions, Lebanon’s nightlife and tourism sectors show signs of recovery after years of economic and political turmoil.
- Hezbollah’s weakened status and public wariness have helped Lebanon avoid deeper conflict, offering a brief window for economic revival.
“The opening of the festivals was supposed to feature American artistic groups, but the measure taken by the US State Department advising Americans against traveling to the region prompted us to postpone the festivals,” Hala Chahine, the festival’s spokesperson, told Arab News.
The Baalbeck International Festival may face a similar fate.
“The final decision has not been made yet, and we still have time,” Maya Halabi, the festival’s spokesperson, told Arab News. “The festivals are set to begin at the end of next July, so we can monitor the situation for a sufficient period before making the final decision.”
She added: “The main issue lies with the artistic groups that are set to participate, including those performing in “Carmen,” Georges Bizet’s masterpiece, scheduled for July 25 on the steps of the Temple of Bacchus. They are coming from Romania, Paris and Brazil.”
Tony Ramy, president of the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs and Pastries, said the hospitality sector “had pinned its hopes on the new era in Lebanon, which brought trust and hope, as psychological factors greatly influence the tourism sector.
“Expectations were high, especially with the Arab openness to Lebanon — particularly from the Gulf countries. The Arab tourists are investors in Lebanon, property owners and big brothers to the Lebanese, and we share with them a historical nostalgia.
“Preparations were extensive, and we gathered some time ago at the Phoenicia Hotel — we, the owners of more than 400 restaurants — to declare that the sector was fully ready for the summer season.
“But the recent developments led to a drop in reservations by as much as 70 percent after airlines stopped landing at Beirut Airport.”
On the ground, Lebanese citizens — who personify the phrase ‘it is what it is’ — are living a dual reality. For many, day-to-day concerns like income and access to basic services outweigh the complexities of geopolitics.
Initially, many feared Lebanon would be dragged back into conflict if Hezbollah joined the fight at Iran’s behest. Those fears eased when the group announced it would stay out — for now.
Thomas Barrack, the US envoy to Syria, had warned Hezbollah against any action that might ignite further instability.
“I can say on behalf of President Trump... that would be a very, very, very bad decision,” Barrack said after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri last week, responding to a question on what the US position would be on any involvement by Hezbollah in the war.
Speaking in Doha on Tuesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his government had succeeded in avoiding a new war.
“We managed to prevent Lebanon being dragged into a new war or involvement in the regional conflict that was raging, and today we are looking forward to a new page of diplomatic action,” Salam told a press conference in the Qatari capital.
Lebanon’s recovery remains tightly bound to Hezbollah’s trajectory. Once regarded as Iran’s most formidable regional proxy, Hezbollah has been severely weakened. Over the past year, Israeli operations have decimated its leadership and degraded its military capabilities.
The US-brokered ceasefire of November 2024, which Hezbollah was forced to accept, left the group politically isolated and militarily diminished — sidelined in the latest confrontation between Iran and Israel.
Despite its historic role as Iran’s frontline against Israel, Hezbollah has refrained from attacking during the latest crisis. This restraint reflects not only the damage it has sustained, but also shifting public sentiment in Lebanon.
Many Lebanese now question the wisdom of sacrificing their fragile recovery for Iran’s regional ambitions — particularly after Tehran offered little support during Hezbollah’s darkest hours.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah was required to retreat north of the Litani River and surrender its weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces — a process still underway.
The latest regional escalation began with Israel’s unprecedented strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, prompting missile barrages on Israeli cities. The US responded with direct strikes on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.
The next day, Iran retaliated with missile fire targeting US forces at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, drawing widespread condemnation. All missiles were intercepted and no casualties were reported.
While full-scale war seemed imminent, a fragile ceasefire — announced by US President Donald Trump on Monday — appears to be holding, at least for now.
Although both Israel and Iran have violated the truce in isolated incidents, the pause has allowed ordinary Lebanese to cling to the hope of avoiding further chaos.
Still, anxiety lingers. Lebanon’s recovery remains fragile, and any renewed fighting could draw Hezbollah back into the conflict — with potentially disastrous consequences.
For now, the country stands at a crossroads. The Lebanese people are determined to seize this rare moment of calm to rebuild and reclaim a sense of normal life. But the fate of that recovery may depend on the restraint of regional powers — and the endurance of the ceasefire.
Since the ceasefire was announced, Ramy said the tourism and hospitality sector had received a vital boost.
“The Arab tourists are last-minute planners,” he told Arab News.
“Now we await the Arab tourists from the Gulf, and we expect the arrival of Jordanian and Egyptian tourists. These come quickly because the distance between us is short, and they have their own hotels and restaurants they frequent. We hope for a summer similar to that of 2023.
“What matters most is security and political stability.”
Syrian president condemns Iranian attack on Qatar
- Ahmad Al-Sharaa tells Qatari emir that Damascus rejects any aggression that threatens Qatar’s security or undermines regional stability
LONDON: Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa expressed his country’s support for Qatar on Tuesday and condemned the previous day’s attack by Iran on Al-Udeid Air Base, southwest of Doha.
During a telephone call to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, Al-Sharaa described the missile attack by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a blatant violation of Qatari sovereignty and airspace, and a breach of international law.
He reaffirmed that Damascus rejects any aggression that threatens the security of Qatar or undermines regional stability, the Qatar News Agency reported.
The new government in Damascus, established after former President Bashar Assad’s regime was toppled in December 2024, has shifted away from Assad’s long-standing alliance with Tehran as it works to reintegrate Syria into the Arab fold, and promote diplomacy and economic growth.
About 400 passengers have left Israel on US-assisted flights
- The State Department is sharing information with over 27,000 people about leaving the region
- The US started some limited assisted-departure flights for US citizens
WASHINGTON: The United States has helped about 400 US citizens and others to fly out of Israel since Saturday amid conflict with Iran and hopes to accommodate more in the coming days, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday.
“We very much know that there’s still capacity, still US citizens seeking to leave Israel, that the airspace is not reliably opened up. It is incredibly dynamic,” the official said.
The State Department is sharing information with over 27,000 people about leaving the region and safety and security, the official said, up from 25,000 last week.
The US started some limited assisted-departure flights for US citizens, lawful permanent residents and their immediate family members on Saturday.
The official said thousands had also left Israel overland for Jordan, while several hundred had departed through Egypt over the past two days. Several thousand US citizens have gone to Cyprus on ships, mostly arranged by Birthright or other private groups.
Hundreds have left Iran through Azerbaijan, the official said. Turkmenistan has been restricting the entry of US citizens but is now allowing them in after weekend diplomatic efforts.
The State Department is aware of reports of a couple of US citizens detained in Iran in this process but has no additional information to share, the official said.
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran had reached a ceasefire
deal, although violations were reported.
Israel launched a surprise attack on June 13, hitting Iran’s nuclear sites and killing the top echelon of its military command.
Retaliatory missile strikes have killed 28 people in Israel.
Adam Goldstone, who arrived in Florida on Tuesday after leaving Israel through an effort to evacuate Americans organized by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Emergency Management, said his family tried any way to get out of the country but that there were not many options.
“It was pretty indescribable. We left Sunday morning. There were sirens. We took a bus all the way to the Jordanian border. We spent hours at the border there trying to cross over,” Goldstone said.
Florida contracted the operation with Grey Bull Rescue, a Tampa-based foundation aiming at rescuing Americans from conflict zones, as well as the state’s Department of Transportation.
His wife, Donna Goldstone, said they had had to run to bomb shelters over 25 times.
“Sleepless nights for the past week and a half. It has been really intense,” she said.
Maroc Telecom raises $330 million in bond issuance on local market
- Maroc Telecom, which is listed on the Casablanca stock exchange and on Euronext Paris, is 53 percent controlled by the UAE’s Etisalat, while the Moroccan state holds a 22 percent stake
RABAT: Maroc Telecom, Morocco’s largest telecoms operator, has raised 3 billion dirhams ($330 million) in its first private bond issuance on the domestic market, it said on Tuesday.
The bond, with a two-year maturity and bullet repayment, was issued at a fixed rate of 2.37 percent, the company said in a statement.
The money will help the company refinance a part of its debt and support its investments in 5G and fiber optic development, it said.
Maroc Telecom, which is listed on the Casablanca stock exchange and on Euronext Paris, is 53 percent controlled by the UAE’s Etisalat, while the Moroccan state holds a 22 percent stake.
Besides Morocco, it operates subsidiaries in Benin, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Togo.
