Two names stand out for the AKP's Istanbul mayoral candidacy! 'We don't have the luxury of making mistakes, anyone else would be a surprise'

There are approximately 4 months left until the local elections on March 31, 2024. While alliance debates continue on the opposition front, the AKP aims to reclaim the metropolitan municipalities it lost in 2019, primarily Istanbul and Ankara.

Applications for mayoral candidacy within the AKP ended on November 22. While nearly 6 thousand people have applied, all eyes have turned to the straw poll, which is one of the important criteria in determining mayoral candidates.

The election, in which approximately 150 thousand party members will vote online, is being held today (November 26). The straw poll will be conducted for all provinces and districts, but the most anticipated results will be those for the Istanbul candidates.

YERLİKAYA AND KURUM ON THE AGENDA FOR ISTANBUL

According to a report by Gazete Duvar, the number of names being discussed for Istanbul, where many candidates were previously mentioned, has narrowed down to two in recent days. It is stated that the race is between Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya and former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Istanbul Deputy Murat Kurum.

"YERLİKAYA HAS PUBLIC APPEAL"

Those who argue that Yerlikaya should be the candidate say, "If we say we must win Istanbul, we don't have the luxury of making mistakes. Ali Yerlikaya knows Istanbul well. He has a very good public perception and appeal, even among voters who do not vote for us. He is also an advantageous name in terms of an action and service-oriented campaign."

Those who advocate for former Minister Murat Kurum to be the candidate point to the advantages of Kurum being a politician from the Black Sea region, young, and experienced in executive roles.

Furthermore, those who draw attention to the work Kurum has done in Istanbul say, "He was told to go and work, it is clear that preparations are being made." Politics is always open to surprises, but the candidacy of anyone other than these two names is currently seen as a 'surprise'.

In addition to the straw poll, surveys will also be influential in the AKP's candidate determination process. The candidate is expected to be finalized within the next two weeks.

News Source: 12punto