IZMIR MAYOR SWITCHES TO ERDOGAN'S PARTY

ANKARA, OCTOBER 7 /SRNA/ - Izmir Mayor Ćemil Tugaj has joined the ruling Justice and Development Party /AKP/, a move seen as a major symbolic victory for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan announced Tugaj's decision to join the AKP at a party meeting in Ankara, where he personally welcomed the Izmir mayor.

"We are preparing to get Izmir back on its feet," said Tugaj, who has served as mayor of Izmir for the past two years.

Izmir is Turkey's third-largest city and an opposition stronghold, AFP reported.