In Moment of Despair, Turkey’s Opposition Finds New Synergy and Unity

The decision for the rerun of Istanbul vote rattled Turkey. But it also reinvigorated the opposition, paving the way for the steady rise of a new leader — Ekrem Imamoglu.

Former Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu joined a family in Istanbul’s Sultanbeyli district for first iftar dinner of Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

“Everything will be fine.”

Hours after Turkey’s election authority ruled for holding a new election in Istanbul, this has become the defining motto of Turkey’s fragmented but emboldened opposition.

It was a morale boost to reinvigorate the opposition dispirited by the annulment of opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu’s hard-won and deserved win in Istanbul in local elections. And the remarks came from the new (or former) mayor himself.

“Everything will be fine,” the mayor said, rejecting to allow himself to be overtaken by grief and despair. And he enabled a diverse set of people — celebrities, writers, journalists and people from all walks of life — to coalesce around a passionate cause to…