Who will be the AKP's Istanbul mayoral candidate? The number of candidates has been narrowed down to 2
Today, the CHP held a launch program for its Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) mayoral candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu. Following the program, all eyes turned to January 7, when the AKP is set to announce its own IMM candidate. According to information obtained by 12punto, the number of names being discussed for the AKP's IMM candidacy has been reduced to two. The final decision is expected to be made tonight.
12punto
Ercan KÜÇÜK - 12punto.com.tr
President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had stated that they would announce a large number of candidates, including the IMM candidate, on Sunday, January 7. Many names had been discussed for the IMM candidacy within the AKP. Names such as Selçuk Bayraktar, Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca, Murat Kurum, and Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya had been mentioned in internal party polls. In recent days, Fatih Mayor Ergün Turan had also been added to these names.
IT WILL BE DECIDED TONIGHT
According to information obtained by 12punto from AKP sources, the number of names being discussed for the IMM candidacy has been reduced to 2. According to the information, the names remaining in the final for the AKP are former Minister of Environment and Urbanization Murat Kurum and Fatih Mayor Ergün Turan. The final decision is expected to be made by President Erdoğan tonight.
Ergün Turan, who is also the former head of TOKİ, is known for working in harmony with IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, unlike Esenler Mayor Tevfik Göksu.