ORC Research General Manager Mehmet Pösteki evaluates for 12punto: 'CHP voters will not boycott'

Ayhan TAŞPINARLIOĞLU- 12punto.com.tr

While the congress process within the CHP and the IYI Party's announcement that "we will field candidates in 81 provinces" have sparked debates over whether they will "affect the outcome of the local elections," ORC Research General Manager Mehmet Pösteki made notable statements.

"A CONCERN OF 'CAN THEY OR CAN'T THEY' PREVAILS"

Is Özgür Özel a profile that gives hope to CHP voters, and will he create excitement among CHP voters as we head toward the local elections?

"Özgür Özel has always been a politician whom a large segment of CHP voters sympathized with and trusted. Since the public has not seen much of his leadership before this, a concern of 'can he or can't he?' prevails.

"A BOYCOTT WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED"

If there is no change in the CHP chairmanship, will a portion of CHP voters implement a boycott in the local elections?

I don't think they will. Because in the general election, a result emerged that both CHP staff and Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, and all opposition leaders, were already angry about and did not expect. The voters are in a state of hopelessness, but this is an election. I do not think the Republican People's Party will face any boycott if it presents itself to its voters with the right candidates and the right strategies. In recent weeks, a significant number of CHP voters had started grumbling, asking 'why is a congress being held when there is a local election?' Therefore, the attitude in the minds of CHP voters is this: 'whatever the issue is, let's look ahead.'

"THE DIPLOMACY PROCESS WILL BEGIN TO WORK"

Will the IYI Party go for cooperation in the local elections if there is a change in the CHP?

I think that whether there is a change or not—meaning even if Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu stays in his place or Özgür Özel wins—the IYI Party will conduct diplomacy after this congress process, and the alliance could be put back on the table for the IYI Party. I think the opposition voters feel this way too; it's not just my own opinion, we encounter this in our research as well. Whoever comes in, the diplomacy process will begin to work.

"VOTERS WILL FORM THEIR OWN ALLIANCE"

If the IYI Party does not change its decision and enters the election with its own candidates in 81 provinces, what kind of result will it face, and how will the municipalities held by the CHP be affected?

Voters will definitely form their own alliance. Since people's level of interest in politics has increased significantly in recent years, voters look at the statements of politicians at that moment or, since the upcoming election is a local election, they look at municipal governance. For example; if the IYI Party fields a different candidate in Ankara, how much of the IYI Party's voter base will vote for their own candidate and how much for Mansur Yavaş? If people can think about this in their minds, I think they will find the right result. The public will form its own alliance in this sense. There are definitely places where the IYI Party will create trouble for the opposition bloc. Istanbul is at the very top of this list. At this point, this will be handled through the right kind of diplomacy, perhaps based on candidates or province-based cooperation. But even if it cannot be resolved, I do not think the Republican People's Party will suffer any damage, except for a few losses."