6 people switch to AKP in Ataşehir: An alarming picture for CHP in the IMM Assembly
The 6 members who switched from CHP to AKP in the Ataşehir Municipal Assembly have brought the seat distribution in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Assembly back to the agenda. With the addition of Oğuz Sarul to the AKP, the gap between the CHP and the People's Alliance has narrowed to 12 seats.
12punto
The defection of 6 CHP members to the AKP in the Istanbul Ataşehir Municipal Assembly has made the seat distribution in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Assembly a subject of debate once again. The names who switched to the AKP include Oğuz Sarul, Sinan Emrah Yıldırım, Fatih Evliyaoğlu, Abdullah Aslan, Cengiz Kayayurt, and Mehmet Alver.
The fact that one of these individuals, Oğuz Sarul, is also an IMM Assembly member has drawn attention regarding the balance in the Metropolitan Assembly. Following the March 31, 2024 local elections, the CHP had secured a majority in the IMM Assembly with 187 members, while the People's Alliance's member count remained at 130.
In the subsequent period, the situation in the IMM Assembly changed due to arrests, suspensions, and party changes. According to a report by Yavuz Alatan from Sözcü, in the current distribution, the CHP's number of members has fallen to 154, while the People's Alliance's number of members has risen to 142. Thus, the gap between the two blocs has narrowed to 12.
İMAMOĞLU CASES AND POTENTIAL VOTING
The arithmetic in the IMM is also of particular importance due to the cases against Ekrem İmamoğlu. If one of the conviction rulings against İmamoğlu is finalized and results in a political ban, the possibility of his removal from the mayoral office could arise. In such a scenario, the election for the IMM Mayor would be held in the municipal assembly.
One of the cases in which a verdict has been reached against İmamoğlu is the file heard on charges of insulting YSK members. In this file, İmamoğlu was sentenced to 2 years, 7 months, and 15 days in prison, and the decision was upheld by the appellate court. The file is currently at the Court of Cassation stage.
Following the changes previously experienced in the Üsküdar and Adalar municipalities in Istanbul, the transitions in Ataşehir are also being evaluated as developments that closely affect the majority calculation in the Metropolitan Assembly.