Foreign Minister Katz: Turkish voters punished Erdogan for attacking Israel

Foreign Minister Israel Katz wades into Turkey’s local election on social media platform X, chastening President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his stance on Israel after the Turkish leader and his AKP party suffered a shellacking at the polls.

Writing in Turkish, Katz congratulates incumbent Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, both of whom fended off challenges from Erdogan’s party and allies.

Their Republican People’s Party, or CHP, won the municipalities of 36 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, according to Anadolu, making inroads into many strongholds of Erdogan’s party in an election that had been largely seen as a referendum on the longtime leader.

“This is a clear message to @RTErdogan,” he writes, tagging Erdogan. “Attacking Israel no longer works, find new materials.”

Türkiye'de yerel seçimler Erdoğan'ın adayları için yenilgiyle sonuçlandı. İstanbul'da @ekrem_imamoglu ve Ankara'da @mansuryavas06'a tebrikler. Bu @RTErdogan'a açık bir mesaj: İsrail'e saldırmak artık işe yaramıyor, yeni malzemeler bulması gerekli.

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) March 31, 2024

Analysts say voters were not motivated by an affinity for Israel. Rather economic strains, including nearly 70% inflation and a slowdown in growth brought on by an aggressive monetary-tightening regime, moved voters to punish AKP and Erdogan.