Izmir's Mayor Cemil Tugay has joined President Erdoğan's AK Party, surprising many in the Turkish left and marking a significant political shift in the city. Tugay, who previously ran as a centre-left candidate and vowed never to join the ruling party, becomes the first right-wing mayor of Izmir in 27 years. Despite this defection, the AK Party does not hold a majority in the city's council, as the New Party remains the largest group.