
In a blow to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an opposition candidate declared victory in the Istanbul mayor's race for a second time today after the government-backed candidate conceded defeat in a high-stakes repeat election.

Softly-spoken former businessman and district mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, 49, said 'Thank You, Istanbul' in a televised speech tonight.

'It was not a single group or party, but the whole of Istanbul and Turkey that won this election,' Imamoglu said in his victory speech as tens of thousands of his ecstatic supporters celebrated across the city of 15million.

Thousands of supporters of Republican People's Party candidate for mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, gather for Imamoglu's speech after the Istanbul mayoral elections re-run

'It was not a single group or party, but the whole of Istanbul and Turkey that won this election,' Imamoglu said in his victory speech as thousands of his ecstatic supporters celebrated across the city of 15million

He continued: 'Mr President, I am ready to work in harmony with you. I convey from here my request to meet with you in the shortest time possible.' Pictured: One of his supporters

In a blow to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured), the opposition candidate declared victory in the Istanbul mayor's race for a second time today after the government-backed candidate conceded defeat in a high-stakes repeat election

Supporters wave the flag of Turkey and light flares at the rally of Ekrem Imamoglu, in Beylikduzu district, in Istanbul, on Sunday night

Softly-spoken former businessman and district mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, 49, said 'Thank You, Istanbul' in a televised victory speech tonight.

'Mr President, I am ready to work in harmony with you. I convey from here my request to meet with you in the shortest time possible,' he added.

His supporters were jubilant after unofficial results showed he won the mayorship of Europe's largest city in a clear majority of the vote as the election was rerun at Erdogan's request.

His opponent, former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, conceded moments after early returns showed him trailing well behind Imamoglu, 54 per cent to 45 per cent.

His supporters were jubilant after unofficial results showed he won the mayorship of Europe's largest city in a clear majority of the vote as the election was rerun at Erdogan's request

Erdogan's party still controls 25 of Istanbul's 39 districts and a majority in the municipal assembly. Imamoglu will have to work with those officeholders to govern Istanbul. Erdogan's party loses capital Ankara in Turkey mayoral race. Pictured; His supporters tonight in Istanbul

Turkish people gather to celebrate after the Istanbul mayoral elections re-run, at Kadikoy in Istanbul, with huge crowds amassing to hear Imamoglu speak

The outcome means Turkey's largest city won't be governed by Erdogan's party or its predecessor for the first time in 25 years

The outcome means Turkey's largest city won't be governed by Erdogan's party or its predecessor for the first time in 25 years.

Thousands of opposition supporters erupted in mass celebration outside the headquarters of the Republican People's Party, which backed Imamoglu, chanting 'Mayor again! Mayor again!'

Imamoglu narrowly won a previous mayoral election on March 31, but Erdogan's Justice and Development Party challenged the vote.

Thousands of opposition supporters erupted in mass celebration outside the headquarters of the Republican People's Party, which backed Imamoglu, chanting 'Mayor again! Mayor again!'

Supporters of Istanbul mayoral candidate Imamoglu celebrate their win during Imamoglu's victory rally after Binali Yildirim of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) conceded his defeat

His relentlessly upbeat campaign paid off with an emphatic win on tonight, extending his margin of victory from just 13,000 votes in March to more than 775,000

Turkey's electoral board annulled the results after weeks of partial recounts. Imamoglu served 18 days as mayor and was stripped of the post with the board's order for a another election

His relentlessly upbeat campaign paid off with an emphatic win on tonight, extending his margin of victory from just 13,000 votes in March to more than 775,000.

Turkey's electoral board annulled the results after weeks of partial recounts. Imamoglu served 18 days as mayor and was stripped of the post with the board's order for a another election.

'You have protected the reputation of democracy in Turkey with the whole world watching,' Imamoglu, his voice hoarse after weeks of campaigning, told supporters.

Erdogan campaigned for Yildirim in Istanbul, where the president started his political career as mayor in 1994.

Imamoglu's opponent, former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, conceded moments after early returns showed him trailing well behind Imamoglu, 54 per cent to 45 per cent

'You have protected the reputation of democracy in Turkey with the whole world watching,' Imamoglu, his voice hoarse after weeks of campaigning, told supporters (pictured)

Erdogan's party, AKP, also lost control of the capital city of Ankara in Turkey's March local elections, which were held as the country faced an economic downturn.

The voided vote in Istanbul had raised concerns domestically and abroad about the state of Turkish democracy and whether Erdogan's party, which has been in control of the Turkish government since 2002, would accept any electoral loss.

Erdogan's party still controls 25 of Istanbul's 39 districts and a majority in the municipal assembly. Imamoglu will have to work with those officeholders to govern Istanbul.

Addressing Erdogan in his speech, Imamoglu said, 'I'm ready to work with you' to solve Istanbul's problems. The president has previously signalled an unwillingness to do so.

Istanbul, a city of 15 million, draws millions of tourists each year and is Turkey's commercial and cultural hub.

Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul accounted for 31 per cent of Turkey's GDP in 2017.

Born in 1970 in the Black Sea coastal city of Trabzon in northeast Turkey, Imamoglu was a little-known district mayor in the western suburb of Beylikduzu where he had built a reputation as a competent but unflashy administrator.

Thousands of opposition supporters erupted in mass celebration outside the headquarters of the Republican People's Party, which backed Imamoglu, chanting 'Mayor again! Mayor again!

A key advantage has been his ability to reach beyond the normal demographic of his staunchly secular Republican People's Party (CHP).

A practising Muslim, he also shares a passion for football with Erdogan, having played at amateur level and still serving on the board of his hometown Trabzonspor team.

Imamoglu studied business management before entering his family's lucrative real estate and restaurant business in western Istanbul.