Notable political buzz from Ankara regarding Mansur Yavaş: Will he quit politics? 'If the CHP splits...'

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş has recently been at the center of public attention due to tensions within the CHP and his disagreements with Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. The question, "Will Mansur Yavaş quit politics?" sparked debate, particularly following the Cumhuriyet newspaper's headline, "Yavaş: I will quit." In a statement regarding the matter, Yavaş clarified that his words had been misinterpreted and set forth a clear stance on whether he would continue in politics.

"IF THE CHP SPLITS, THERE IS NO POINT TO POLITICS"

In his statement, Yavaş expressed that the possibility of the party splitting is his greatest concern. "If the unity and solidarity within the CHP are broken, there is no point in engaging in politics on this foundation," Yavaş said, openly expressing his discomfort with intra-party disputes. It is reported that he conveyed this discomfort directly during his recent meeting with Kılıçdaroğlu.

IN THE SHADOW OF INTRA-PARTY TENSIONS

According to an article by Nefes Gazetesi columnist Aytunç Erkin, Yavaş's relationship with Kılıçdaroğlu has entered a tense phase. Yavaş, who has been observed breaking his silence against factionalism and behind-the-scenes maneuvering within the party, stated that his purpose in politics is to fight for the people. He remains distant from the moves Kılıçdaroğlu is making regarding the party congress lawsuit.

Aytunç Erkin's article is as follows;

The other evening…

My journalist friend Timur Soykan shared some inside information on a YouTube broadcast on Onlar TV. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, and CHP Party Assembly Member Engin Özkoç visited Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. According to the claim, Kılıçdaroğlu told the delegation that went to meet with him, "They can neither make appointments nor pay the bills. Whoever is at the headquarters does that." Mansur Yavaş, who was in the delegation, was reportedly very angry with Kılıçdaroğlu over these words. It is alleged that Yavaş challenged Kılıçdaroğlu, saying, "What you are doing will split the CHP. If you do this, I will withdraw from politics."

I asked Mansur Yavaş about this claim on the evening of the broadcast. Yavaş gave a short and clear sentence: "I said there is no point in engaging in politics if the party splits." The same sentences were also stated by journalist Gürbüz Evren on a live TV100 broadcast, where he clarified that Yavaş did not utter the phrase "I will quit politics." (As a statement from Mansur Yavaş.)

A response of "I am a foot soldier" to the "I will quit" headline

Yesterday… Cumhuriyet Newspaper also ran the headline, "Yavaş: I will quit." The report claimed that Yavaş made the following statements during that meeting: "If politics continues this way, this party will split. My reason for engaging in politics will also disappear. Our goal is to be in power. I am in politics for this. However, the target here is the CHP." The report continued: "These words from Yavaş, who has high political popularity in the country and is seen as one of the potential presidential candidates in elections, were interpreted as 'I will not be a candidate.' There had been claims in the corridors that Kılıçdaroğlu wanted to make Yavaş a candidate if he were to become the party chairman again."

Mansur Yavaş made a statement regarding these claims and shared with the public what he meant by "I will quit":

"We are going through such a period today that we have neither the chance nor the remedy other than to be one and together. I have always said: This is not just our party's issue; it is the responsibility of all opposition parties. Because if we do not act together, we will lose not only today but also our future. Even our grandchildren will not forgive us. Only the Republican People's Party can solve our country's problems, and this country needs the CHP. For this reason, it is a necessity to avoid giving the impression that we are struggling with internal problems. It is essential that these discussions, which have been going on for a week and which CHP members are not at all pleased with, come to an end in some way. My greatest desire, and what should be, is for our former chairman, our current chairman, and all party members to stand as one and whole, like a clenched fist. Otherwise, there is no point in any of us, including myself, engaging in politics. This is all I wanted to explain."

Those who closely follow the corridors of Ankara say that Mansur Yavaş, who said "I have suspended the candidacy debate" after the March 19 operation, is very uncomfortable with entering into these debates. They state that Yavaş, who focuses on Ankara and injustices, says in every setting that it is necessary to avoid the image of an intra-party fight. Meanwhile, a note from the Yavaş camp: "Mansur Bey had said that this was his last term in Ankara. After this, we shall see what the future holds."

And in his statement yesterday, Yavaş said, "It is not possible for the discussions that our party members or some individuals who appear to be party members are conducting around our current Chairman and our previous Chairman, by associating them with the lawsuit process on June 30, to contribute to our country's struggle for democratization and justice, nor to the deepening poverty problem of our citizens."

It is also possible to read the following sentences uttered by Mansur Yavaş as "I will not quit politics" and "I will decide when the time comes": "To serve the people of Ankara as long as I am in this office, which I came to with the favor of the people of Ankara, and not to waste their trust. To work like a foot soldier to end the presidential regime imposed on our country by the People's Alliance and to ensure our country's transition back to a democratic parliamentary system."