Ekrem İmamoğlu's 6 advantages in an election without alliances! 'İYİ Party candidate will not have a major impact'

Turkey will head to the polls for local elections on March 31, 2024.

With the İYİ Party rejecting the CHP's cooperation proposal, the possibility of an alliance on the opposition front has been completely eliminated.

There is also talk in political circles that HEDEP will field its own candidate. In this context, all eyes, from the ruling party to the opposition, have turned to Istanbul.

CAN İMAMOĞLU WIN WITHOUT AN ALLIANCE?

If the İYİ Party and HEDEP field their own candidates, the question 'Can Ekrem İmamoğlu win without an alliance?' is being asked.

According to a report in Gazete Duvar, this is possible according to İmamoğlu's close campaign team. Party members, who state that a city alliance has been created in Istanbul and that this can be developed during the election process, believe that İmamoğlu has a series of advantages.

These advantages are listed as follows:

1) As the incumbent mayor, İmamoğlu starts the race one step ahead.

2) Polls show that 63 percent of İYİ Party supporters are in favor of an alliance with the CHP. Support for Mr. Ekrem is even higher. The İYİ Party candidate will not have a major impact.

3) The Selahattin Demirtaş effect is strong among Kurdish voters in Istanbul. The candidacy of Demirtaş's wife, Başak Demirtaş, is being discussed. Unless a candidate who resonates with Demirtaş is fielded, İmamoğlu can largely maintain the vote he receives from Kurdish voters.

4) The AKP's largest voter base is the poor. İmamoğlu has performed well on this issue during his 5-year term. Both the budget for aid to those in need was increased and there was no partisan behavior. İmamoğlu will receive significantly more votes from the poor and AKP voters in Istanbul compared to the previous election.

5) The presidential election ended 52-48 in favor of Erdoğan nationwide, but Kılıçdaroğlu was 4 points ahead in Istanbul. This picture, which has continued since the April 16 referendum, is also an advantage for İmamoğlu.

6) The AKP's rumored candidates, such as Murat Kurum, Adil Karaismailoğlu, or Tevfik Göksu, do not create excitement either within their party or among the electorate. None of them have the potential to take votes from the CHP or HEDEP. But if a good election process is managed, İmamoğlu can also receive votes from MHP voters in addition to AKP supporters.

News Source: 12punto