Is the AKP preparing Yerlikaya for Istanbul? 'Erdoğan is struggling...'

The candidacy process has gained momentum ahead of the local elections.

While it is not yet known who the AKP will field in the metropolitan cities, the political corridors have become active.

Sözcü columnist Deniz Zeyrek claimed in his column today that the AKP might be preparing Ali Yerlikaya for Istanbul.

Zeyrek stated the following in the relevant section of his article:

"Politics is heating up as we enter the final stretch for the local elections.

For the first time in its 21-year history, the ruling party is struggling to determine candidate names. Despite the short time remaining until the elections, they have not yet been able to field a strong, ambitious candidate against Ekrem İmamoğlu in Istanbul or Mansur Yavaş in Ankara."

YERLİKAYA FOR IMM CANDIDACY

Names such as Murat Kurum, Tevfik Göksu, Adil Karaismailoğlu, Fahrettin Koca, and Selçuk Bayraktar are being mentioned to run against İmamoğlu, but it is said that President Tayyip Erdoğan is not satisfied with the names mentioned so far and is looking for a game-changing candidate.

According to the claim, Yerlikaya is following paths that will create a perception that will allow him to gain the support of non-conservative, center-right, republican, and secular segments, and he is moving with confident steps toward the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidacy."

ERDOĞAN HAD GIVEN A DATE

Erdoğan answered journalists' questions upon his return from his visit to Algeria and gave a message regarding the local elections.

Erdoğan had said the following:

"We have conducted and are continuing to conduct public opinion polls in every province, especially in the metropolitan cities. We are striving to analyze the results, understand what is in the hearts of our nation, and determine the candidates who will be most beneficial to our cities. December 1st is the deadline for civil servants who want to become mayoral candidates and must resign from their posts for this reason. Let us see the situation of the civil servants as well. Once their situation becomes clear, we will hopefully start announcing our candidates gradually towards the middle of December."

News Source: 12punto