You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Zainab Bedawi.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the program and I hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Zainab Bedawi in Istanbul.

Voters here dealt a massive blow to President Erdogan when they voted in the opposition to the mayor's office,

not once but twice after there was a rerun of the vote.

Istanbul, a city of 16 million, was the power base for President Erdogan,

who once said, whoever wins Istanbul wins Turkey.

My guest is the new Mayor Ekram Imamolu.

How far has he shaken the Turkish political landscape

and can the opposition break the hold of the AK Party nationwide?

Mayor Ekram Imamolu, welcome to Hard Talk. Are you surprised that you're sitting

here in the mayor's office? It is, after all, the first time in 25 years that your CHP party

has won this position.

I am comfortable and very happy. I was not surprised and indeed I am fully prepared.

Your party leader Kamar Kili Jaroglu said,

Do not forget today the victor is democracy.

That's when you won.

And he said the whole world that believes in democracy is proud of Turkey.

So the ruling act party, President Erdogan, your party

suggesting are good Democrats. They didn't rig the election.

We took many precautions. I cannot say exactly who did what, but we took many precautions.

We didn't permit any errors. There

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