Following 'by-election' claims, AKP sources provide a date for early elections: We would not object

While the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu continues, the Republican People's Party (CHP) has launched a signature campaign both for early elections and for the release of İmamoğlu.

As the CHP continues its calls for early elections, claims of a 'by-election' have been put forward.

It has been alleged that the main opposition party plans to reach the 30 vacant seats required for a by-election by having 23 deputies resign for this purpose. There are currently 7 vacant parliamentary seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).

"WE COULD WAKE UP ON DECEMBER 1 TO THE RESIGNATION OF 30 DEPUTIES"

Journalist Barış Yarkadaş, known for his proximity to the CHP, claimed that there would be resignations of deputies within the CHP aimed at creating the vacancy in the TBMM required for a by-election to be held.

Yarkadaş stated, “Towards the autumn months, 30 CHP deputies will submit their resignations to the TBMM. These deputies will be chosen from places where the CHP is very strong. According to the plan, with the vacancy of these 30 seats, a by-election will be held. Thus, by returning to the vacated seats more strongly, the CHP will tell the government, ‘I am the leading party in Turkey not only in local elections but also in general elections.’ We could wake up on December 1, 2025, to the resignation of 30 deputies.”

Stating that the resignation process would not be carried out directly in a technical sense, Yarkadaş said, “A deputy cannot just resign as they please; it is voted on in the General Assembly. If the government does not accept the resignations, a separate debate will begin.”

BY-ELECTION STATEMENT FROM AKP SOURCES

According to a report by the Türkiye newspaper, which is close to the government, AKP sources described these moves as "futile," noting that the parliamentary majority lies with the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı). The same sources assessed, “We say that the elections will be held in 2028, but we would not object to an election held in November 2027. In any case, if the President's re-candidacy is to come to the agenda, the Parliament must make the decision for an election.”

According to the legislation, 30 parliamentary seats must become vacant for a by-election to be held. If this number is reached with the resignation of 23 more deputies from the CHP, the General Assembly of the TBMM must accept these resignations.