VOA Turkish service contributed to this report.

ISTANBUL – Polls have closed in Turkey's nationwide local elections on Sunday, a vote expected to be the toughest Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced, with the control of the capital Ankara and Istanbul at risk.

With the economy in recession and soaring inflation, economic concerns were first and foremost on many voters' minds.

"Our economy is getting worse and worse because of their (government) bad management," said Erdem, an engineer, speaking before voting in Istanbul. "Most of my friends are now looking for a job and some my friends lose their job because of economic crisis."

FILE - The Ottoman-era Blue Mosque and the sixth-c FILE - The Ottoman-era Blue Mosque and the sixth-century Byzantine monument of Hagia Sofia (Ayasofya) are seen in the old city as skyscrapers of the city's financial district stand in the background over the port of Istanbul June 1, 2007. FILE - The Ottoman-era Blue Mosque and the sixth-century Byzantine monument of Hagia Sofia (Ayasofya) are seen in the old city as skyscrapers of the city's financial district stand in the background over the port of Istanbul June 1, 2007.

Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and the country's financial capital. According to opinion polls, the election there was too close to call. Erdogan's AK Party has controlled the city for more than 15 years.

"My expectation is there will be good things coming out of this election, we will win with a big difference," said Sinan, an AKP supporter speaking after voting in Istanbul.

Voters in Ankara spoke about the country's economic problems.

"The youth in this country are unemployed. We know the hardships of people who don't have a job. The only solution to this is creating jobs," Orhan Kurubacak told VOA.

"I don't think things are going well. There is nothing more else to say. There are a lot of economical factors," Hakan Akyürek said.

One AKP candidate, Cumali AttIla, told VOA's Kurdish service, "I hope these elections would end with gumption. It is our responsibility to claim democracy."

Even though Erdogan was not on the ballot, he took personal control of the local election campaign. In a sign of what analysts suggest are fears of losing Istanbul, Erdogan in the last few days held more than a dozen rallies across the city in a bid to consolidate his party's support.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan casts his ballot Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan casts his ballot at a polling station during the municipal elections in Istanbul, March 31, 2019 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan casts his ballot at a polling station during the municipal elections in Istanbul, March 31, 2019

Refocus

Throughout the campaign Erdogan sought to move the agenda away from economic woes, instead focusing on security concerns, and the threat posed by Kurdish separatists, along with a religious agenda.

Turkey's Erdogan: 'No Difference' Between New Zealand Killer, IS Terrorists Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says last Friday's massacre at two New Zealand mosques should in no way be linked to Christianity and that the gunman is no different from Islamic State terrorists."I categorically reject any attempt to associate last week's terrorist attacks with the teachings, morals or maxims of Christianity," the Muslim politician wrote in an opinion piece published Wednesday by The Washington Post. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says last Friday's massacre at two New Zealand mosques should in no way be linked to Christianity and that the gunman is no different from Islamic State terrorists."I categorically reject any attempt to associate last week's terrorist attacks with the teachings, morals or maxims of Christianity," the Muslim politician wrote in an opinion piece published Wednesday by The Washington Post.

Erdogan repeatedly played videos of a massacre of Muslims praying in New Zealand mosques at his rallies. The Turkish president likes to present himself as as a protector of Muslims around the world; a stance analysts say plays well with his religious and nationalist base.

In another move aimed at his base, Erdogan, days before Sunday's poll, promised to turn Istanbul's Hagia Sophia Museum, once one of Christiandom's most important churches, into a mosque.

However, analysts say Erdogan struggled to change the agenda away from the economy. With Turkey in the grip of soaring food prices, over 30%, "the key issue for the next local elections in Turkey is the economy," professor Baris Doster of Istanbul's Marmara University said.

People shop in a bazaar in Ankara, Turkey, March 2 People shop in a bazaar in Ankara, Turkey, March 27, 2019. People shop in a bazaar in Ankara, Turkey, March 27, 2019.

"I think that the most powerful and effective opposition parties are not the classical parties, like the Republican People's Party or the Good Party. However, the key issue for the elections is the increasing prices of vegetables. Let's say the prices of cucumbers or tomatoes. These are the most effective oppositions of Turkey," Doster added.

Erdogan's Economic Woes Grow Ahead of Key Elections in Turkey The Turkish economy has fallen into recession for the first time in a decade, according to data released on Monday. The timing could not be worse for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with critical local elections scheduled for the end of the month.According to state figures, the gross domestic product shrank by 2.4 percent in the last quarter, a sharper contraction than most predictions. The Turkish economy has fallen into recession for the first time in a decade, according to data released on Monday. The timing could not be worse for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with critical local elections scheduled for the end of the month.According to state figures, the gross domestic product shrank by 2.4 percent in the last quarter, a sharper contraction than most predictions.

In a bid to alleviate public anger over rising prices, state-subsidized food was sold in Ankara, Istanbul and other major cities in the run-up to the local elections. However, analysts say the images of people queuing up for food appears to have only underlined opposition claims the country is in crisis.

Erdogan appears to have also been wrong-footed by the surprise move of the pro-Kurdish HD Party's decision not to contest the main cities outside of Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast region.



"Our strategy is based on winning in the east and making them lose in the west," said Gul Demir, co-head of HDP in Istanbul's Kadikoy district.

In Elections, Turkey’s Opposition Hopes to Capitalize on Erdogan’s Woes On Sunday Turkey holds critical local elections, with control of the country’s main cities up for grabs. On Sunday Turkey holds critical local elections, with control of the country’s main cities up for grabs.

Demir says her party is calling on its supporters to vote for the main opposition CHP party. The HDP, Turkey's second-largest opposition party, accounts for nearly 10% of the electorate in cities like Istanbul and Ankara.

While courting Turkish nationalist voters Erdogan has targeted the HDP, calling the party terrorists partly linked to Kurdish insurgents the PKK. Thousands of its officials have been jailed in a crackdown, including elected mayors and parliamentary deputies.

An official prepares ballot voting papers with nam An official prepares ballot voting papers with names of political parties at a polling station during the municipal elections, in Ankara, Turkey, March 31, 2019. An official prepares ballot voting papers with names of political parties at a polling station during the municipal elections, in Ankara, Turkey, March 31, 2019.

Kurdish vote

The HDP is seeking to win in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish region, in towns and cities where party mayors have been removed from office and jailed by the state, accused of supporting Kurdish insurgents.

Pervin Buldan, co-chair of HDP, said votes cast Sunday for her party "will contribute to peace, freedom and equality."

Buldan said, however, the obstacles their party faced, such as receiving no television coverage during the election, might not be enough to win.

"Every day we tried to clear and explain the truths told our people about the lies, slanders, threats and the perception that created against us. We did our duty today. I believe that our people will do their duty at the polls, too," she said.

However, analysts say HDP voters could play a decisive role in Turkey's western cities where polls indicate close contests, especially Istanbul where the HDP has a strong base.

On Saturday, however, dozens of HDP local officials were detained in police raids in Istanbul.

In Malatya province in Eastern Anatolia, a polling station volunteer and a party observer from the small Islamist Felicity Party (SP) were killed. Turkey's official Andolu news agency reported the incident in the otherwise largely peaceful vote.

Attention is focusing on the outcome of the election in Istanbul. Erdogan's hometown remains his power base and has significant symbolic value, being the city where he launched his political career by winning the mayorship back in 1994.

Control of Istanbul and other major cities is one source of power outside of Erdogan's direct control since he turned Turkey into a presidential system. The old Turkish political adage -- "who controls Istanbul, controls Turkey" -- for many still holds true.

The loss of Ankara and Istanbul would also deal a mighty blow to Erdogan's reputation of electoral invincibility.