Akşener called them 'cowards': Ahmet Hakan defends Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş
Journalist Ahmet Hakan, known for his proximity to the government, has come to the defense of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, whom IYI Party leader Meral Akşener targeted by calling them 'cowards'.
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The tension between the IYI Party, which decided to enter the local elections 'freely and independently', and the CHP continues.
Speaking in Uşak, IYI Party leader Meral Akşener targeted IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and ABB Mayor Mansur Yavaş, saying, "Both of them got scared and did not accept the nation's request."
Akşener's remarks drew a reaction from Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan, who is known for his proximity to the government.
"İMAMOĞLU AND YAVAŞ DID THE RIGHT THING AT THE TIME"
Supporting İmamoğlu and Yavaş, Hakan said, "This is not cowardice at all. Both Yavaş and İmamoğlu did the right thing at the time."
Hakan continued his column by stating the following;
"If they had jumped headfirst into Akşener's proposal, their reputation among their base would have dropped to zero. Because they would have been acting opportunistically. Because they would have been committing betrayal. Just as it is right for Akşener to embark on a free and independent path, the accusation of cowardice is just as wrong."