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Press Release

02 August 2023

STERLING GAINS ON EIGHT TOP CURRENCY DESTINATIONS, REVEALS M&S TRAVEL MONEY

Insight from M&S Travel Money * reveals that the value of the pound has increased against eight of the top ten currency destinations over the last 12 months, with sterling gaining as much as 66 per cent on the Turkish lira – M&S Travel Money’s third most popular currency destination of 2023.

As holidaymakers continue to look for low local costs, as well as favourable exchange rates, Australia has increased in popularity over the last 12 months, having moved up two places, from sixth to fourth, when it comes to the most popular currency destinations, which may have been further bolstered by the pound gaining 10 per cent on the Australian dollar, compared to the same time last year.

However, the Eurozone remains holidaymakers’ top currency destination, despite sterling dipping one per cent against the euro. America also continues to hold its position as the second most popular currency destination, with holidaymakers able to benefit from the pound increasing eight per cent against the US dollar compared to the same time last year.

The pound has gained two per cent on the Thai baht compared to last summer, and with this Thailand has also increased in popularity over the last 12 months, moving up three places to become the seventh most popular currency destination; meanwhile, Mexico is no longer in the top ten for summer 2023.

Despite sterling seeing a ten per cent increase against the UAE dirham, the UAE has dropped from the fourth to sixth most popular destination, while South Africa enters the top ten destinations for summer 2023, with the pound up 11 per cent on the South African rand.

Sterling movements against M&S Travel Money’s top ten currency destinations over the last 12 months:

Nic Moran, M&S Travel Money, said: “We’d always encourage holidaymakers looking for a good deal to consider the total cost of their holiday, including exchange rates and local costs, and it looks like many holidaymakers are considering the value of the pound compared to local currency when considering their summer holiday destination.”

Nic’s top travel money tips:

• Plan spending money early: Get your spending money organised ahead of time; order your currency online, or visit a high street bureau de change, to secure a rate in advance – and travel with both local currency and a credit card, to ensure you’re covered for all eventualities.
• Don’t leave yourself short when it comes to currency: Ensure you have enough cash for snacks, taxis and tipping, ATMs may not always be readily available.
• Consider local costs when budgeting: ensure you factor in the cost of things like meals, shopping and tipping, sterling gains on some destinations can mean your holiday budget goes further on arrival.

The M&S in-store travel money bureaux, alongside its euro and dollar Click & Collect travel money service, means an M&S currency service is available in more than 450 M&S stores. The service offers a Click & Collect facility, so customers can order using their Smartphone or tablet – whether at home or in store – and collect in as little as 15 minutes.

Top ten currencies (based on M&S Travel Money currency sales over the last 12 months):

Notes to editor:

*All exchange rates taken as of 27.07.23 and 27.07.22

** In January 2023, Croatia adopted the Euro as its local currency, and no longer uses the Croatian Kuna

For more information, please contact:

Louise Wheble on 079204 12086 / [email protected]

Nikki Backler on 079204 17652 / [email protected]

About M&S Bank

M&S Bank (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services plc) launched in 2012 on the foundations of M&S Money, which was established in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer plc. In November 2004, HSBC bought 100 per cent of the share capital of Marks and Spencer Retail Financial Services Holdings Limited.

Today, M&S Bank operates as a joint venture arrangement between HSBC and Marks & Spencer, however, M&S Bank has its own banking licence and its own Board.

M&S Bank offers a broad range of financial products, including the M&S Credit Card, and a range of loans, savings and general insurance products, while its travel money service offers one of the widest ranges of currencies available on the high street. 

HSBC UK serves around 15 million customers across the UK, supported by 26,000 colleagues. HSBC UK offers a complete range of retail banking and wealth management to personal and private banking customers, as well as commercial banking for small to medium businesses and large corporates.

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Compare Turkish lira travel money rates

Get the best Turkish lira exchange rate by comparing travel money deals from the UK's top foreign exchange providers

Best Turkish lira exchange rate

The lira has been the official currency of Turkey since 1923 after it was introduced by the newly-formed Turkish government in the aftermath of World War I. In recent times, the lira has experienced periods of extreme volatility due to economic and political instability, which have caused its value to plummet and led to a significant devaluation in the Turkish lira exchange rate.

If you're travelling to Turkey, it's important to shop around and compare currency suppliers to maximise your chances of getting a good deal. We can help you to find the best Turkish lira exchange rate by comparing a wide range of UK travel money suppliers who have Turkish lira in stock and ready to order online now. Our comparisons automatically factor in all costs and commission, so all you need to do is tell us how much you want to spend and we'll show you the top suppliers who fit the bill.

Compare before you buy

Some of the best travel money deals are only available when you buy online. By using a comparison site, you're more likely to see the full range of deals on offer and get the best rate.

Order online

Always place your order online, even if you plan to collect your currency in person. Most supermarkets and high street currency suppliers offer better exchange rates if you order online beforehand.

Combine orders

If you're travelling with others, consider placing one large currency order instead of buying individually. Many currency suppliers offer enhanced rates that improve as you order more.

The best Turkish lira exchange rate right now is 37.6988 from Travel FX . This is based on a comparison of 17 currency suppliers and assumes you were buying £750 worth of Turkish lira for home delivery.

The best Turkish lira exchange rates are usually offered by online travel money companies who have lower operating costs than traditional 'bricks and mortar' stores, and can therefore offer better currency deals than their high street counterparts.

For supermarkets and companies who sell travel money online and on the high street, it's generally cheaper to place your order online and collect it from the store rather than turning up out of the blue and ordering over the counter. Many stores set their 'walk-in' exchange rates lower than their online rates because they can. By ordering online you're guaranteed to get the online rate and you can collect your order from the store as usual.

Turkish lira rate trend

Over the past 30 days, the Turkish lira rate is up 0.04% from 37.6988 on 16 Mar to 37.7139 today. This means one pound will buy more Turkish lira today than it would have a month ago. Right now, £750 is worth approximately ₺28,285.43 which is ₺11.33 more than you'd have got on 16 Mar.

These are the average Turkish lira rates taken from our panel of UK travel money providers at the end of each day. You can explore this further on our British pound to Turkish lira currency chart .

Timing is key if you want to maximise your Turkish lira, but the best time to buy will depend on the current market conditions and your personal travel plans.

If you have a fixed travel date, you should start to monitor the Turkish lira rates as soon as possible in the period leading up to your departure so that you've got time to buy when the rate is looking favourable. For example, if the Turkish lira rate has been steadily increasing over several weeks or months, it could be a good time to buy while the rate is high.

Some people prefer to buy half of their Turkish lira as soon as they've booked their holiday, and the remaining half just before they depart. This can be a good way of maximising your holiday money if the exchange rate continues to rise after you've bought, but will also help to minimise your losses if the rate drops.

You could also consider signing up to our newsletter and we'll email the latest rates to you each month.

If you need your Turkish lira sooner and don't have time to wait for the rates to improve, you can still save money by comparing rates from a range of different providers before you buy. Online travel money suppliers usually have better Turkish lira rates than high street exchanges, but supermarkets are a good compromise if you want to collect your currency in person and still get a decent rate. Just remember to buy or reserve your Turkish lira first before you collect them from the store so you benefit from the supplier's better online rate.

Turkish lira banknotes and coins

Turkish lira are governed and issued by the Central Bank of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası), while Turkish lira banknotes and coins are produced by the Turkish State Mint and Printing House Corporation which has facilities in Ankara and Istanbul.

One Turkish lira can be subdivded into 100 kuruş (kr). The word 'kuruş' (pronounced 'koo-roosh') means 'fraction' in Turkish.

There are six denominations of Turkish lira banknotes in frequent circulation: ₺5, ₺10, ₺20, ₺50, ₺100 and ₺200. Each denomination features a portrait of a notable Turkish figure on the obverse, and a design inspired by different periods of Turkish history or culture on the reverse.

Coins are available in six denominations: 25 kr, 50 kr and ₺1 which are used most frequently, and 1 kr, 5 kr and 10 kr which are used less-often due to their low values. Although they remain legal tender, 1-kuru coins are no longer minted because the cost of their production is more than their face value. Consequently, most cash transactions in Turkey tend to be rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10 kuruş.

The symbol for Turkish lira (₺) has an interesting history. Unlike most currency symbols which are centuries old, the lira symbol was created by a Turkish citizen after a country-wide competition in 2012. The symbol is based on the letters 'T' and 'L' crossed in the middle by two lines to form an anchor-like shape which is supposed to represent the stability of the lira. The two horizontal lines symbolise Turkey connecting to Europe in the West and Asia in the East.

There's no evidence to suggest that you'll get a better deal if you buy your Turkish lira in Turkey. While there may be better exchange rates available in some locations, your options for shopping around may be limited once you arrive, and there's no guarantee the exchange rates will be any better than they are in the UK.

Exchange rates aside, here are some other reasons to avoid buying your Turkish lira in Turkey:

• You may have to pay commission or other hidden fees to a currency exchange that you wouldn't have paid in the UK
• Your bank may charge you a foreign transaction fee if you use it to buy Turkish lira when you're abroad
• It can be harder to spot scammers and fraudulent currency exchanges in Turkey

Lastly, it can be handy to have some cash on you when you arrive at your destination so you can pay for any immediate expenses like food, transport and tips. You don't want to be searching for the nearest currency exchange when you've just landed and you're desperate for a cup of tea - or a cocktail!

Tips for saving money while visiting Turkey

Naturally, the cost of a holiday in Turkey will vary depending on where you go and what you do. You can expect to pay more for goods and services in major cities like Ankara and Istanbul which have a higher cost of living than many other parts of Turkey, and resorts on the Aegean Coast tend to be more expensive than those on the Black Sea, but overall Turkey is considered to be an affordable holiday destination for British travellers.

• Plan your itinerary: There are hundreds of free attractions to visit in Turkey: from the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, to the Pamukkale in Denizli which is known for its white terraced pools of mineral-rich hot springs, and the ancient city Ephesus in İzmir which is home to some of the best-preserved ancient structures in the world including the Odeon theater and the Temple of Artemis. Research free attractions in whatever city you're staying in and plan your itinerary around these.
• Use public transport: Local buses are the most affordable way to travel around towns and cities in Turkey, followed by metros. All major cities in Turkey have fast and reliable metros that allow you to travel around the city on a single ticket or a rechargeable card. Or, if you prefer travelling by road, consider using Dolmuş instead of hiring a private taxi or rental car. Dolmuş is a shared taxi or minibus service that operates on a fixed route. It can be a flexible and affordable way to get around, especially in smaller towns and more rural areas.
• Haggle for prices: Haggling is common practice in Turkey, so don't be afraid to haggle for a better price on goods and services. Find out the value of whatever you want to buy by looking around or asking locals, then start by offering a lower price than you're willing to pay. Be prepared to negotiate, and above all; be patient and respectful and you could end up with a bargain!
• Research your accommodation: Instead of booking a hotel, consider staying in a pension. Pensions in Turkey are small, family-run guesthouses that offer budget-friendly accommodation for travellers. They are usually located in historic neighborhoods or in the countryside and they provide an authentic experience compared to staying in a hotel. Pensions usually have basic amenities such as shared bathrooms and simple furnishings, but they provide a comfortable and clean place to stay at an affordable price.
• Eat like a local: Turkey is famous for its affordable and delicious street food. Kebab houses can be found everywhere and they serve a variety of grilled meat dishes including doner kebab, shish kebab, and adana kebab which are typically served with rice, salad, and bread. If your accommodation has a kitchen, consider shopping in the local markets and creating your own Turkish-inspired dishes.
• Take cash: Using cash will help you to stick to a budget more easily than paying by card, and you'll also avoid foreign transaction fees. If you do take a card with you, look out for ATMs that are affiliated with your UK bank to avoid ATM fees, and if you're asked whether you want to pay in pounds or Turkish lira - always choose Turkish lira. If you pay in pounds the merchant can set their own exchange rate which won't be in your favour.

Choosing the right payment method

Sending money to a company you might not have heard of before can be unsettling. We routinely check all the companies that feature in our comparisons to make sure they meet our strict listing criteria, but it's still worth knowing how your money is protected in the unlikely event a company goes bust and you don't receive your order.

Bank transfer

Your money is not protected if you pay by bank transfer. If the company goes bust and you've paid by bank transfer, it's unlikely you'll get your money back. For this reason, we recommend you pay by debit or credit card wherever possible because they offer more financial protection.

Debit cards are the most popular payment method and they offer some financial protection. If you pay by debit card and the company goes bust, you can instruct your bank to make a chargeback request to recover your money from the company's bank. This isn't a legal right, and a refund isn't guaranteed, but if you make a chargeback request your bank is obliged to try and recover your money.

Credit card

Credit cards offer full financial protection, and your money is protected by law under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Section 75 states that your card issuer must refund you in full if you don't receive your order. Be aware that many credit cards charge a cash advance fee (typically around 3%) for buying currency, so you may have to weigh up the benefits of full financial protection with the extra cost of using a credit card.

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Currency in Moscow

The official currency of Moscow is the Russian Rouble (RUB) . Discover where to exchange money, what the best rates are and more with our handy guide.

ATMS and banks

In Moscow you won't have any trouble finding ATMs and banks all over the city.

How to pay in Moscow?

Credit cards are widely accepted at most larger chain hotels, restaurants and shops, however it's best to keep cash for everything else. Note also that while chip and pin cards are accepted, cards that require a signature may be rejected. Always check your overseas charges with your bank before paying, to avoid any nasty surprises!

Exchange rate

₽ 100 ( US$ 1.10)

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Moscow - Vnukovo Airport (VKO) transfer to Moscow - Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO)

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The day of your trip, your transport will be waiting for you for a simple, stress-free journey to your destination.

Moscow - Vnukovo Airport (VKO) transfer to Moscow - Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) map

Moscow - vnukovo airport (vko) to moscow - sheremetyevo airport (svo) transfer time.

51 minutes approximately

Moscow - Vnukovo Airport (VKO) to Moscow - Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) distance

35 Miles approximately

57 Kilometres approximately

This map and route are for information purposes only, with no guarantee of accuracy or completeness. The transport company retains absolute discretion to choose the route to your destination. Distance and travel times are only indicative between origin and destination points.

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Fastest way to get from Moscow - Vnukovo Airport (VKO) to Moscow - Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO)

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Cheapest way from Moscow - Vnukovo Airport (VKO) to Moscow - Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO)

The most economical way to travel to Moscow - Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) is by bus. Shared transport options will be more budget friendly as you will be sharing the travel with other passengers.

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Tesco Bank Turkish Lira Exchange Rates Compared

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Tesco Bank is in position 18 for Turkish Lira

Our review of tesco travel money, pros: what we like :.

✓ Tesco is a well known high street brand.

✓ Home delivery is free, when you spend £500 or more online.

Cons: What we like less:

✓They have fewer currencies readily available than many of our providers.

✓Generally not the most competitive exchange rates.

✓Unlike some other supermarket brands, there are no benefits for Tesco Clubcard holders when buying travel money.

Questions about Tesco Bank

If you want to order travel money for home delivery, you just need to visit their website and you can place an order online.

You just need to enter the following information into a simple form:

• ✅ Your personal details
• ✅ The amount of pounds you’re exchanging into the foreign currency
• ✅ Select the currency you’re exchanging your pounds into
• and select how you want to pay.
• Select your preferred delivery option, whether you want your travel money delivered to your home or to a Tesco branch or bureau de change near you.

Then, once you have made the bank transfer and they have received the payment, they will send you your travel money.

You can see view our supermarket only search here Which supermarket has the best euro rate which we update virtually real-time.

Not usually, it can vary, but buying travel money in the branches often works out more expensive. However, you can order your currency online and get it delivered to a branch near you for collection if home delivery isn’t a suitable option. You can see the latest Tesco exchange rates (for online purchase) above, or look for the best exchange rates on our travel money comparison tool where we compare the rates from all the best travel money providers.

At the time of your purchase, the Clubcard Price will always offer you a better deal compared to the regular rate shown online. To enjoy the Clubcard Price, simply enter your valid Clubcard number during the online purchase process. It's worth noting that exchange rates may vary depending on whether you choose to buy in-store, online, or over the phone.

Tesco typically have a travel money bureaux in-store. They have Euros and US Dollars that are instantly available, but some currencies need to be ordered in specifically.

This obviously will depend on the currency and exchange rates each of the travel money providers are offering. Our online comparison tool will show you all the latest travel money rates who is offering the best deals on your foreign currency.

You can order a minimum of £100 worth of travel money online

The maximum amount of travel money you can order online is £2,500

You can pay for your travel money via bank transfer or debit or credit card.

They can have your travel money order shipped to your home address. They use Royal Mail Special Delivery which attempts to deliver to your chosen address before 1pm.

Alternatively you can order online and collect your travel money in store near you.

They don't charge commission and no matter how you purchase your travel money, you will not be charged any card handling fee by Tesco Travel Money.

Not usually! Many of the online travel money providers can offer better rates than in highstreet branches or bureau de changes as their overheads can be kept down meaning you can often get the best rates for travel money online.

Yes, they do, however, we always recommend you compare the best buyback rates here to make sure you are getting the best possible deal and saving you money.

What is the Tesco Bank Turkish Lira rate?

The Tesco Bank Turkish Lira rate is currently 35.6472.

The best pound to turkish lira exchange rate now is 37.7771, which is available from Travel FX.

The worst exchange rate is 34.9738. The difference between the highest and the lowest is 7.42%. This means that if you are buying £750 worth of turkish lira you will get ₺2102.48 more turkish lira by buying with the best turkish lira provider.

This shows you it pays to shop around and get the best rates on travel money!

Turkish lira exchange rate over the last week.

This shows you the best pound to turkish lira exchange rate recorded daily from our UK suppliers over the last week.

In the last 7 days, the rate for Turkish Lira has fallen by 0.08%.

If you were to order £1,000 today you would get ₺30.80 less turkish lira for your money than last week.

How do we source the data above? We receive rate feeds travel money suppliers and aggreate the data each evening we save the average rate that occured during the day, and also include the current best rate

How to get the best turkish lira exchange rate.

We compare the pound to turkish lira exchange rates from many of the UK’s biggest travel money providers including exclusively online providers as well as some of the well-known high street banks and supermarket travel money services. Our clever algorithms ensure you get the latest turkish lira rates and see who is offering the best turkish lira to pound currency deals .

Compare Travel cash is a free service that takes the pain and effort out of finding the best exchange rates for buying turkish lira online . Don't forget the price we quote is the price you pay, we calculate the amount including any fees and delivery costs!

Buying Turkish Lira online FAQs

Hundreds of customers safely buy turkish lira through online travel money providers sites every day and have a great experience. However, as with ordering anything online, the process is never completely risk-free and you should always take care when transferring money to any company. Compare Travel Cash undertake comprehensive checks on all of our online travel money providers and monitor them to make sure they meet our high standards and continue to do so. Having said that, no company is guaranteed not to come into trouble and we cannot guarantee the solvency of any of the providers listed on our website. We always recommend that you conduct your own due diligence before placing an order with any company.

Its simple! Choose the travel money provider you would like to buys turkish lira from, then: 1. Fill in your details. 2. Select your preferred payment option and make the payment. - Each currency supplier will have different payment options, but the options are usually bank transfer, debit card, with some suppliers offering payment by Apple Pay and Android pay. 3.Enter your delivery preferences whether you want your currency delivered to your door or collection (depending on the supplier). 4.Once your order has been confirmed your order will be prepared and your currency sent to you by registered delivery, some suppliers even offer next day delivery.

Not Usually! We constantly update our exchange rates as they change for each supplier, we try to do this in almost real-time, (in normal circumstances not more than 1 minute difference). Also we sometimes have exclusive offers that you won't find by going direct.

Of course! If you want to exchange turkish lira into pounds you can see the best buy back rate on turkish lira and many other currencies using our buy back comparison tool .

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Turkey’s opposition wins big cities in blow to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

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Adam Samson and Ayla Jean Yackley in Istanbul and Funja Güler in Ankara

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling party has suffered a resounding defeat in Turkey’s local polls, dealing the strongman his most severe electoral setback since his rise to power two decades ago.

Turkey’s opposition scored decisive mayoral victories against Erdoğan’s Justice and Development party (AKP) in races across the country, including in economic powerhouses Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa and Antalya. The AKP has not performed so poorly in local elections since Erdoğan founded the Islamist-leaning party at the turn of the millennium.

Ekrem İmamoğlu’s strong performance for the opposition Republican People’s party (CHP) in Istanbul marked a painful blow to Erdoğan , who threw his full weight behind the AKP candidate in a bid to vanquish his arch-rival and the opposition’s pre-eminent politician.

“Istanbul has delivered its message,” İmamoğlu told a large crowd of supporters who gathered in the centre of the city on Monday morning. “The era of one person’s tutelage is over.”

Residents of the country’s largest city took to the streets to celebrate the result, waving Turkish flags, honking car horns, lighting colourful flares and bursting into song and dance into the early hours.

The CHP’s strong showing came as voters lashed out at Erdoğan over a long-running inflation crisis , which has sent the price of everything from groceries to vehicles and appliances soaring in recent years.

“Turkey’s main opposition party managed to defeat the ruling alliance, delivering the biggest election defeat of Erdoğan’s career,” said Berk Esen, a professor at Istanbul’s Sabancı University, who added that it was the CHP’s best showing since the 1977 general election.

Overall the CHP captured 38 per cent of the national vote, while support for the AKP fell to 35 per cent, according to initial figures from the Anadolu state news agency. The AKP had notched up 44 per cent of the vote in the previous local race in 2019.

A conciliatory Erdoğan told his supporters in the capital Ankara that with the local election over, the government could focus on fixing the economy. He promised that his efforts to rein in inflation would pay off this year and that he would prioritise foreign policy, especially curbing Kurdish aspirations for self-rule across the border in Syria.

“We unfortunately could not get the result that we wanted, that we hoped for, in the local elections,” he said. “Under no circumstances will we disrespect our people’s decision . . . That this election chapter, which has tired our nation, our people and our economy for the last year, is closed as of today is in itself a victory.”

But many saw the vote for thousands of local administrators as a referendum on Erdoğan’s authoritarian style of rule, which has included interventions in monetary policy, limits on free speech and political influence in the judiciary.

“It was a ‘no’ vote to Erdoğan especially in Istanbul and a lot of other places,” said Selim Koru, an analyst at the Ankara-based Tepav think-tank.

The loss marks a stark turnaround from the presidential election of May last year, in which Erdoğan fought off a six-party opposition alliance trying to unseat him. It also bolsters İmamoğlu’s standing as the only politician in Turkey who has repeatedly been able to take on Erdoğan — Turkey’s most important leader since Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who founded the republic a century ago.

Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, a fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, said Erdoğan “can no longer count on an opposition that is in disarray”.

İmamoğlu, 53, beat AKP candidate Murat Kurum by 12 percentage points in the Istanbul race, taking 51 per cent of the vote, according to Anadolu. That marks the highest margin of victory for an Istanbul mayor in four decades.

Erdoğan, 70, had deployed a barrage of resources to the city, holding rallies and dispatching top ministers to campaign for Kurum, as state-aligned media showered the former urbanisation minister with coverage.

İmamoğlu’s win echoes the municipal race in 2019, when he took control of Istanbul in a highly charged campaign in which Erdoğan’s party forced — and then lost — a repeat of the vote.

In Ankara, support for the opposition was even more dramatic, with incumbent mayor Mansur Yavaş declaring victory after securing 60 per cent of the vote, far ahead of AKP opponent Turgut Altınok, who took 32 per cent.

Turkish markets advanced on Monday on hopes that an economic overhaul programme that began in June will remain intact despite Erdoğan’s electoral setback. The lira rose about 1 per cent to TL32.1 to the dollar and Istanbul’s Bist 100 equities index ticked up slightly.

Beyond the country’s biggest cities, the AKP faced the loss of provinces where it has dominated for the past decade or longer, mostly in western Turkey.

The CHP wrested control of the southern city of Adıyaman, one of the areas hardest hit in the 2023 earthquake , and Kilis, a conservative province that borders Syria.

In the predominantly Kurdish south-east, the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy party won 10 provincial capitals, compared with eight in 2019. The party has faced a long-running crackdown by Erdoğan that has included the jailing of several of its mayors and its former chair, Selahattin Demirtaş.

The Islamist New Welfare party captured the religiously conservative cities of Şanlıurfa and Yozgat. The party had supported Erdoğan in last year’s general election but broke with the AKP in this vote over disagreements on trade with Israel and economic policies.

“It’s enough AKP. We are tired of the AKP because of the economic situation. Everything is so expensive,” said 59-year-old Şanlıurfa resident Ramazan Çimen, who has typically voted for the AKP but said he was now backing New Welfare. “We need a change in this country.”

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