The AKP's plan for İmamoğlu and Yavaş... Which is the 'tougher opponent' for Erdoğan: 'Divide and conquer...'

The ruling party's operations against opposition municipalities are continuing rapidly. Following the cancellation of Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma and his subsequent arrest on corruption allegations, the Ministry of Interior wrote a memorandum yesterday to investigate claims of irregularities in concert expenditures at the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality.

Following all these developments, there is curiosity about how far the ruling party's boundaries will extend.

Nefes columnist Aytunç Erkin penned an article evaluating the latest developments in the Ankara Municipality following those in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). Erkin explained what the ruling party has planned for İmamoğlu and Yavaş.

Here are the highlights from Erkin's article:

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office wrote a memorandum to the Ministry of Interior to investigate allegations of irregularities in concert expenditures by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, which is claimed to have paid 810 million liras for concerts over 67 months. The Inspection Board has also launched an investigation.

On the same day, the following social media post came from Mansur Yavaş:

“On November 11, the day I made a statement to the press regarding the matter, 2 civil inspectors were sent by the Ministry of Interior to examine the issue. This investigation is still ongoing. There is no new situation. No one is above us when it comes to accountability. We stand by our word; if anyone has committed a crime, they will face the consequences. We expect the same behavior from all public institutions and municipalities.”

“We are open and transparent on every issue”

I called ABB Mayor Mansur Yavaş regarding the matter.

I asked, “How are you?”

His voice was hoarse:

“We have been traveling between Ankara and Istanbul, and my voice has become hoarse during this time. That is all.” So, what does Yavaş think about the “investigation permit for 33 concerts”:

“It is a normal process. We are open and transparent on every issue. I can only say this: Unfortunately, an environment has been created in the legal system where you can do anything if you want to do something to a person.”

There are some sentences from Mansur Yavaş that stayed with me. But I can say this: He is following the process closely and definitely has some predictions about what might happen in the coming days. It just seems like he is silent for now and will continue to remain silent.

Which one is the tougher opponent for Erdoğan?

I lent an ear to what is being discussed in the corridors of Ankara:

… No one can understand the ruling party's game plan. Yes, it is a fact that Mayor Ekrem is being targeted to be removed from politics through the judiciary. However, what kind of scenario are they planning regarding his potential rival, Mansur Yavaş? There is no evidence that the path is being cleared for Yavaş! After all, the Ankara Municipality is also being inspected by inspectors every day, and a significant blow was dealt to the municipal budget through Social Security Institution (SGK) debts.''

''If Mayor Ekrem's path is blocked, what will come out of the bag for Yavaş? No one knows this. But what we do know is that it serves the ruling party's interests for the opposition to appear fragmented. Mayor Mansur is also in the race, and according to the ruling party, the perception that there is 'chaos' within the CHP could be effective among voters. A campaign of 'How will those who cannot be united among themselves govern the country?' is also being conducted behind the scenes.”