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Erdogan could lose more than Istanbul in high-stakes electoral gamble

With many Turks outraged over the nullification of Istanbul's election results, the oppression of dissent and violence expected going into the rerun could backfire on the increasingly authoritarian president.

Ekrem Imamoglu of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who was elected mayor after the March 31 elections, addresses his supporters after the High Election Board (YSK) decided to re-run the mayoral election, in Istanbul, Turkey, May 6, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer - RC134ED8A270
Ekrem Imamoglu of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who was elected mayor in the March 31 elections, addresses his supporters after the election board decided to redo the mayoral election, Istanbul, Turkey, May 6, 2019. — REUTERS/Murad Sezer

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