Biggest city, istanbul. And for the first time in 25 years, they won more municipalities than the ruling ak party. Overnight, president erdogan told supporters the result was � not an end, but a Turning Point�. Translation we will not disrespect the nations decision in any way, we will avoid being stubborn, acting against the national will and questioning the judgement of our nation. As we have done so far. We will take the necessary steps by analysing the messengers given by the nation at the ballot box, most accurately and objectively within the reason and inner conscience. Opposition supporters say although these are local elections, victories in big cities are a � significant show of force� against erdogan� s ruling ak party. This was the scene in istanbul, turkeys largest city, where thousands took to the streets to celebrate the opposition partys win. The citys incumbent mayor, ekrem imamoglu, declared victory after securing over 50 of the vote well ahead of his nearest rival. Mr imamoglu became the citys first opposition mayor in 2019. Hes now seen as the best placed opposition candidate ahead of turkeys next president ial vote in 2028. He told supporters the result signalled a � very important message� to the world. Translation in this world unfortunately democracies are weakening, these democracies were weakening authoritarian regimes came to power, many articles around the world asked we were coming at the end of democratic regimes. 31 March 2024 is the day when democratic erosion and turkey ended and democracy is rising again. I� m joined now by onur erem from the bbc Turkish Service in our london newsroom. Lovely to have you there. A really big when for the opposition . fin really big when for the o osition . � ,. Opposition . An unprecedented victo , opposition . An unprecedented victory. Peeple opposition . An unprecedented victory, people expected opposition . An unprecedented victory, people expected the l victory, people expected the opposition to win in the larger cities of turkey, but actually getting more votes than the Government Party in general and turkey in winning and some cities which they have not one in the last 40, 50 years as a very big success for the Main Opposition Party, chp. Very big success for the Main Opposition Party, hp. Opposition party, chp. What about president opposition party, chp. What about president erdogan, i opposition party, chp. What| about president erdogan, he came out with some very bullish tour, however, how has this been read . Tour, however, how has this been read . Talk. The first thing he been read . Talk. The first thing he said been read . Talk. The first thing he said after been read . Talk. The first thing he said after the thing he said after the election result was that turkish people gave a warning, that they will hear the warning and act accordingly. He also said this is not the end for his party butjust a turning stop so there are around for years until the next general election, so it will give him enough time to analyse what went wrong, and before the election most of the political commentators were talking about the status of the turkish economy, that might be the main Decision Maker in this election. Decisionmaker in this election decisionmaker in this election. , election. To ust clarify one thing for election. To just clarify one thing for us, election. To just clarify one thing for us, is election. To just clarify one thing for us, is able election. To just clarify one thing for us, is able to election. To just clarify one | thing for us, is able to stand in the next president ial election . In the next president ial election . ,. , election . Not in the regular way because election . Not in the regular way because this election . Not in the regular way because this is election . Not in the regular way because this is his election . Not in the regular way because this is his last| way because this is his last term by the constitution. It can only be standing again if opposition calls an early election, and government agrees on it. Only that way he can stand for another term. Thank ou ve stand for another term. Thank you very much stand for another term. Thank you very much indeed. Will stay with this subject. Let� s speak to cihan tugal , professor of sociology, at the university of california, berkeley. Could i just could ijust pick up on the last point i was discussing. That is, the likelihood of the constitution changing to allow president erdogan to stand yet again. What he risk that for the country . 50 again. What he risk that for the country . The country . So before the elections the country . So before the elections everybody the country . So before the elections everybody was i elections everybody was thinking this is probably what he is going to do but now there has been a very strong rebuke at the ballot box so now some people are saying, well, now that he has received this message he will not risk it. But other commentators are saying well, don� t depend on his rationality he might get enraged, and just because of this magnificent and historic defeat, he might even double down and push for this constitutional change. How would you constitutional change. How would you describe constitutional change. How would you describe the constitutional change. How would you describe the state of democracy in turkey . Democracy in turkey . Well, democracy democracy in turkey . Well, democracy is democracy in turkey . Well, democracy is not democracy in turkey . Well, democracy is not going democracy in turkey . Well, democracy is not going to i democracy in turkey . Well, | democracy is not going to be easy to restore. Things have happened, i can� t summarise all of these but one important thing was that the morning was mired with irregularity in kurdish cities, despite that the kurds talk back most of their municipalities from the appointees that had been imposed by president erdogan under democratically, and micro to might try to do this again so the game is not over there. These couples will continue. President erdogan. The other dimension is the growth of the far right. This has not stopped. That president erdogan his loss does not mean his vision has lost. 4 of his votes have gone to a far right Islamist Party which have been criticising president erdogan because of his Free Market Policies, his socially unjust policies, his socially unjust policies that target for people, and small shopkeepers and small tradespeople and also his dealings with israel, turkish has serious trade with israel and islamist are pretty unhappy about this. So actually all of that is good and well, all of that is good and well, all of that is good and well, all of those could be ready the basis for a strong democratic opposition but the catch and all of this is that this party i am talking about, the far right Islamist Party is also anti women and anti lgbt. It is taking these democratic demands and marrying them to an undemocratic agenda. And even the bigger risk is this party was already in a coalition with the governing party with the party of president erdogan, and they broke of because of israel and the Free Market Policies of president erdogan, the millers to make some concessions this party might recombine his forces with president erdogan they might still score a victory in the general elections. Victory in the general elections. ,. , elections. Just to finish off, what was elections. Just to finish off, what was your elections. Just to finish off, what was your initial elections. Just to finish off, i what was your initial reaction when you started to see those result coming in . What went through your mind . I result coming in . What went through your mind . Through your mind . I was definitely through your mind . I was definitely surprised through your mind . I was definitely surprised and i definitely surprised and definitely surprised and definitely glad, despite all these complexities, an overwhelming majority of the common terry was not expecting this. This was a very welcome surprise. The 2022 election was three the reverse people expected a big opposition battery and that did not pan out. We are pleasantly surprised that the dictatorship has taken a step back. Big opposition victory. Has taken a step back. Big opposition victory. Has taken a step back. Big opposition victory. Thank you. We will have opposition victory. Thank you. We will have on opposition victory. Thank you. We will have on the opposition victory. Thank you. We will have on the electionsl we will have on the elections in turkey and the Economic Situation in the country later this our on World Business report. Do stay with us for that. Let� s turn to the middle east. Hundreds of israeli protesters have spent the night in tents outside Parliament Injerusalem to press their demand for Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to step down. Overnight, thousands of people gathered in jerusalem, for what they� re calling the largest Anti Government protest since the war in the gaza strip began, nearly six months ago. On sunday, israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu underwent surgery for a hernia his office later reporting it had been successful. Graham satchell has this report. The protest on the streets of jerusalem is the biggest israel has seen since the start of the common that, Tens Of Thousands gathered outside the parliament building, the connector, angry at the government� s handling of the war in gaza stop there is growing disquiet at the fate of the hostages, israel� s deteriorating relationship with america and with the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu. We america and with the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu. Of benamin netanyahu. We say listen of Benjamin Netanyahu. We say listen to the of Benjamin Netanyahu. We say listen to the people of Benjamin Netanyahu. We say listen to the people of of Benjamin Netanyahu. We say listen to the people of israel. Listen to the people of israel who are saying enough is enough. We need a Functioning Government. Enough. We need a Functioning Government enough. We need a functioning covernment. �. , government. Benamin netanyahu is not doing government. Benamin netanyahu is not doing his government. Benjamin netanyahu is not doing his job, government. Benjamin netanyahu is not doing his job, anywhere is not doing hisjob, anywhere in the is not doing hisjob, anywhere in the last is not doing hisjob, anywhere in the last few years. He is bringing in the last few years. He is bringing the country down in every. Bringing the country down in every, every aspect possible. So we every, every aspect possible. So we got every, every aspect possible. So we got to replace him immediately. So we got to replace him immediately. Prime minister netanyahu immediately. Prime minister netanyahu has immediately. Prime minister netanyahu has handed immediately. Prime minister. Netanyahu has handed control immediately. Prime minister netanyahu has handed control of his government as deputy temporarily while he has surgery for a hernia. Speaking before the operation he said now was not the time for an election in israel. Election in israel. The calls for elections election in israel. The calls for elections now election in israel. The calls for elections now in election in israel. The calls for elections now in the election in israel. The calls for elections now in the middle of the warjust before the victory will paralyse israel for six months. Eight months in my estimation. They will paralyse negotiations for the rerelease of hostages, when the war to an end for the completion of its objectives in the first to benefit will be her mass. In the first to benefit will be her mass the first to benefit will be her mass. ,. ,. , ~ her mass. In gaza an airstrike near the her mass. In gaza an airstrike near the u her mass. In gaza an airstrike near the lx hospital, her mass. In gaza an airstrike near the lx hospital, israeli i near the lx hospital, Israeli Military says the area was being used as a Command Centre by islamicjihad. The bbc understands four militants were killed in a number of others leading journalists, injured. Backin leading journalists, injured. Back in israel minus scuffles as demonstrators clashed with police. There are protests planned for the next three days in israel as pressure mounts inside the country for a resolution to the conflict. Graham satchell, bbc news. Staying in the region, the us military says it has destroyed another two drones belonging to the iranian backed Houthi Movement in yemen. A statement by Us Central Command said one was shot down over the red sea, the second was destroyed on the ground in yemen. It stressed that drones posed an imminent threat to shipping in the region. The houthis have carried out numerous attacks on vessels in recent months. They say they� re supporting palestinians in the gaza strip. Let� s take a look at some stories making news in the uk today. The home office says nearly 350 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on saturday. Almost 5000 people have made the journey so far this year a rise of around a third in the same period last year. Prime minister, rishi sunak, has made stopping small boats one of the priorities of his government. The National Living wage goes up today Rising Byjust over a pound, to £11. 44 an hour paid to anyone over the age of 21. There are also rises for younger workers. The government says the changes will boost the wages of the lowest paid, by £1,800 a year. Energy prices in uk have fallen to their lowest level for 2 years however, experts are urging people to persist with savings habits as bills remain expensive. The annual bill for a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity has dropped to £1,690, under the regulator� s latest price cap. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of haiti, to mark easter weekend, the first Major National holiday, since the country� s government collapsed. The Caribbean Island has been gripped by gang violence, with more than 1,500 People Killed so far this year and Tens Of Thousands left homeless. The united nations, has described the situation as cataclysmic. Nomia iqbal reports from cap haitien in haiti. As haiti spirals into violence, people try to hold on to their traditions. Thousands of worshippers walk through narrow, dusty roads in cap haitien praying for peace in a country whose capital has descended into lawlessness. In gang controlled Port Au Prince the city is still suffering with people fighting for basic supplies. Most easter processions were cancelled. There was a rare moment ofjoy, though, as children crafted colourful kites, an easter tradition. More than 100 miles away, nun checks in with her family every day to make sure they are still alive. Her father says there was a shooting today, everyone is ok. He tells her he feels broken, though. Nun left Port Au Prince because of the violence. Her cousin was killed by a gang in the capital last year. I have friends that after school they decided to open a business or things like that and after some time either they got killed or they got robbed, so it� s two ways. Either you stay and you fight or you go. Even though i go i� ll come back because i have a plan, I Have A Dream and that dream is happening in haiti. The country is now waiting to see exactly who will take on the gangs in the fight for power. A president ial Transitional Council is in the works and the group� s main goal will be to restore order and democracy to a nation that is at a crucial Turning Point in history. One of the country� s most powerful gang leaders, jimmy cherizier, has said he is open to a ceasefire. Known as barbecue, he and his Coalition Control much of the capital right now, but he wants a seat at the negotiating table. It will be hard to convince many haitians though to accept violent gangsters as future political leaders. Translation when gangs attack, they are terrorising people and they dont have any compassion, theyjust kill. The population is dying, its true, because its the country which is dying. When the port is dysfunctional, the airport is dysfunctional and the hospital is dysfunctional, people will definitely die. Haiti is a country with a lot of faith, but constant, overlapping crises have pushed it to the brink and with little change so far, right now hope is all people have. Nomia iqbal, bbc news, haiti. From today, germans will be able to smoke cannabis in public in a move to decriminalise possession and home cultivation. Under one of the most liberal drug laws in europe, adults in germany will be allowed to carry up to 25 grams of dried cannabis on them hold 50g as home and grow up to 3 marijuana plants. The changes are an attempt to tackle the black market. The rules around medical marijuana are also being relaxed. For supporters of the new law, celebrations started early. Several hundred Cannabis Enthusiasts gathered at midnight under brandenburg gate, in the heart of berlin, to smoke marijuana in public as