Painful convention in İYİ Party: 4 candidates in the congress, 2 names in the crosshairs of party members

Ercan KÜÇÜK - 12punto.com.tr

The İYİ Party, which emerged from the local elections with failure, has entered a new convention process without even being able to discuss the election results. According to information obtained by 12punto from İYİ Party sources, it is emphasized that the blame for the failure within the party is being laid on two people. These names are General Chair Meral Akşener and Organization Chair and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidate Buğra Kavuncu.

“AKŞENER KNEW”

The decisions made before the general elections held on May 14 are being pointed to as the focal point of the unsuccessful result obtained within the party. It is emphasized that General Chair Akşener knew in advance that CHP General Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu would be the joint candidate, and that Kılıçdaroğlu's candidacy would even be imposed on her at the table by saying “Either accept it or leave,” yet she still remained at the table, and her return after leaving created distrust among voters. In fact, an İYİ Party member speaking to 12punto stated that they were going to kick the İYİ Party off the table a day before, and that he himself had conveyed this to the headquarters.

According to information obtained by 12punto, the second fundamental reason for the failure is the harsh stance taken especially against the CHP after the general elections, which was built upon Kılıçdaroğlu. According to what is being discussed, the names around Akşener predicted that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu would win the congress and continue as CHP General Chair. Accordingly, as long as Kılıçdaroğlu remained at the head of the CHP, the İYİ Party would be an alternative to the CHP. However, when Kılıçdaroğlu lost at the congress, this plan fell through and the İYİ Party was harmed.

"CANDIDATES ARE NOT FREE AND INDEPENDENT, THEY ARE THE LEFTOVERS OF OTHER PARTIES"

Another reason for laying the blame on Akşener is the “Free and independent” decision. The nationalist wing, led by Mehmet Tolga Akalın and Rıdvan Uz, who stand out within the party, advocated for a ‘3rd way and cooperation.’ However, this wing emphasizes that the “3rd Way” rhetoric brought into politics years ago by MHP Founder Alparslan Türkeş has nothing to do with today's free and independent stance. This wing states that the determined candidates do not fit the ‘Free and independent’ profile either, and that the leftovers of other parties were made candidates. It is pointed out that the votes received by names coming from the organization are well above the party's Turkey average. There are also those within the party who argue that the election strategy was not about being “free and independent,” but rather about causing Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mansur Yavaş, Zeydan Karalar, and Muhittin Böcek to lose the election.

KAVUNCU IS ALSO TESTING THE WATERS

The other name held responsible for the unsuccessful results was Organization Chair and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality mayoral candidate Buğra Kavuncu. Party members say that Kavuncu was the first to use the “Free and independent” rhetoric in the media, and that such a perception operation and propaganda were carried out through social media accounts close to him. One of the important allegations being discussed within the party is that only 3 votes for him came out of the ballot box where Kavuncu voted, and that even his neighbors did not vote for Kavuncu. The fact that Kavuncu winked at candidacy in a statement he made on his social media account in recent days and used the sentences “??The İYİ Party is a party established to come to power. Therefore, it must be inclusive and embracing. Marginal approaches, rigid and bigoted ideological rhetoric will not take us to this goal,” has also drawn the reaction of the nationalists within the party in particular.

WHO IS SUPPORTING WHOM?

In the shadow of the ongoing debates, the İYİ Party is heading to another extraordinary convention. Mehmet Tolga Akalın, Koray Aydın, Müsavat Dervişoğlu, and Günay Kondaz have announced their candidacies at the convention. So, who is supporting whom?

Sources 12punto spoke to stated that Akşener will support Müsavat Dervişoğlu, that Rıdvan Uz and party members known for their closeness to Mansur Yavaş as well as Thrace delegates will support Tolga Akalın, and that Koray Aydın has influence in the organizations. The idea that the candidacy of Akalın, Dervişoğlu, and Aydın, who are among the party founders, for the general chairmanship means questioning Akşener's will is also among the prominent opinions.