Candidacy process begins in CHP: İmamoğlu expected to file application tomorrow

While preparations for the primary election for the presidential candidacy to be held on March 23 continue within the CHP, the process for submitting signatures for candidacy began on Tuesday. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who pointed to Friday for his candidacy in statements made during the week, is expected to file his candidacy application at the CHP Headquarters in Ankara tomorrow through his lawyer. 

According to information obtained from Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality sources, 12 of the 14 metropolitan mayors governed by the CHP, excluding Ankara and Istanbul, are preparing to announce their support for İmamoğlu regarding his candidacy.

12 METROPOLITAN MAYORS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT

Among the metropolitan municipalities that will announce their support for İmamoğlu today or on Friday, the last day of the signature process, are Adana, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bursa, Denizli, Eskişehir, İzmir, Manisa, Mersin, Muğla, and Tekirdağ. It was learned that the mayors were originally planning to meet in Istanbul by Friday, the last day of the signature process, to announce their support for İmamoğlu, but that the meeting was canceled due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions in the city and that a written statement of support is on the agenda. 

26 DISTRICT MAYORS IN ISTANBUL TO MAKE A STATEMENT

On the other hand, the mayors of the 26 districts governed by the CHP in Istanbul are also expected to make a joint statement supporting İmamoğlu for the presidential candidacy.

It was learned that the district mayors, who met yesterday afternoon to evaluate the situation, discussed the latest debates within the party and the roadmap to be followed regarding the presidential candidacy. The mayors are also expected to give full support to İmamoğlu's candidacy in a joint statement they will release.

OVER 100 SIGNATURES COLLECTED

On Tuesday, the first day of the process where deputies began signing for candidates, more than 30 signatures were collected for İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy, and it was learned that as of today, the number of signatures for İmamoğlu has exceeded 100. . 

THE CANDIDATE TO COMPETE WITH İMAMOĞLU HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

Following the announcement by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) Mayor Mansur Yavaş that he would not be a candidate in the primary, the only person who has announced his candidacy in the CHP so far is former CHP Deputy Dursun Çiçek. While announcing in a live broadcast he attended last night that he would file his candidacy application in Ankara today, Çiçek stated, "If a primary is being held, there must be at least 2-3 candidates so that the members can express their preferences. A primary with a single candidate would be neither democratic nor ethical."

CHP's Mayor of Antalya Muratpaşa, Ümit Uysal's statements last week were interpreted as him potentially being a candidate in the primary. However, in his statements this week, Uysal said that he would not apply for candidacy but that it would be a more correct approach for the CHP to go to the primary with multiple candidates.

News Source: 12punto