Opposition slams decision for re-run Istanbul vote as 'coup'

Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition, Republican People's Party's (CHP) mayoral candidate in Istanbul, waves to supporters during a rally in Istanbul, late Monday, May 6, 2019. Turkey's top election authority voided the Istanbul mayoral election won by an opposition candidate and ordered a do-over, ruling Monday in favor of a request by the president's party to throw out the vote it narrowly lost. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Supporters of Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition, Republican People's Party's (CHP) mayoral candidate in Istanbul, react during a rally in Istanbul, late Monday, May 6, 2019. Turkey's state-run news agency says the country's highest electoral body has ruled for a rerun of the Istanbul mayoral election after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party challenged the legitimacy of the vote an opposition candidate narrowly won. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey's opposition is denouncing a decision by the country's electoral board to force a re-run of the mayoral race in Istanbul.

The Supreme Electoral Board ruled Monday in favor of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's governing party, which challenged the outcome of the March 31 election won by Ekrem Imamoglu. A new vote in Istanbul will be held on June 23.

Erdogan's party claimed the vote was marred by irregularities.

Meral Aksener, leader of a nationalist party which backed Imamoglu, said Tuesday that the "will of the people has been trampled on." And opposition newspaper Birgun branded the decision a "coup" and argued that justice had "been suspended."

The Turkish lira extended losses against the dollar on Tuesday amid the political uncertainty.