What path will Mansur Yavaş follow for his candidacy? That possibility has become very strong

While discussions about early elections continue in Turkey, the question of who will be the CHP's presidential candidate remains uncertain.

As the party leadership prepares to shape the candidate selection process through a primary, the announcement by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş—whose name has been mentioned among the candidates—that he will not enter this race has caused a major stir in political circles.

HAS YAVAŞ GIVEN UP ON HIS CANDIDACY?

Although Mansur Yavaş's decision not to participate in the primary process has been interpreted by some as him abandoning his candidacy bid entirely, his inner circle categorically denies these claims.

It is stated that Yavaş will closely follow the polls to be conducted in the coming period and could officially announce his candidacy if he polls ahead of Ekrem İmamoğlu.

INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY OPTION ON THE TABLE

It is claimed that Yavaş, who was previously discussed as a potential candidate for an alliance that could form in the right-wing bloc, has pushed this possibility to the background and is evaluating the option of collecting 100,000 signatures for an independent candidacy.

In political circles, it is being said that Yavaş has consulted with his close team on this possibility and has received their support.

HE HAD SIGNALED 'WAIT AND SEE'

Yavaş, who had previously expressed that he was not keen on the primary method within the CHP, emphasized in a statement that the process was premature, saying, "Would such a thing happen? I just find the candidacy premature. Let's wait and see. Who will remain until that day? Let an election date be set first, then we can talk more extensively."

In a survey conducted by Piar Research between February 1-4 with 3,460 people in 26 provinces, voters were asked separately for Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş: "Would you vote for them if they were the CHP's presidential candidate?"

When undecided voters were distributed, the support rate for İmamoğlu was measured at 55.2 percent, while the support rate for Yavaş was measured at 53.8 percent.