Erdogan addresses in historic Istanbul rally

In 2019, however, his party lost to the opposition in Istanbul and the capital Ankara, ending the 25-year rule of Erdoğan and his predecessors in the two major cities. The opposition’s Nation Alliance similarly held an Istanbul rally just a day before Erdoğan. Campaigning has been increasingly intense ahead of the May 14 polls, with Erdoğan accusing opposition lawmakers of treason and backing terror.