Aydın Ünal’s take on Mansur Yavaş: ‘It would not be surprising for him to lean toward this side’
Yeni Şafak columnist Aydın Ünal evaluated the meeting between Mansur Yavaş and Erdoğan, pointing to Yavaş’s political trajectory and his rivalry with İmamoğlu.
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The meeting between Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sparked debates on the political agenda. Yavaş’s decision to visit the Presidential Complex instead of attending his party’s anniversary events has been interpreted, particularly in light of internal opposition dynamics and potential presidential candidacy discussions.
A diplomatic tone prevailed in the statements made following the meeting. Yavaş stated that he thanked Erdoğan for the support provided for investments in Ankara and for his willingness to host the NATO Summit in Ankara. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said the visit took place with the knowledge and approval of the party leadership.
Speaking on the *Siyaseten* program broadcast on the pro-government channel TVNET, Yeni Şafak columnist Aydın Ünal evaluated the meeting through the lens of Mansur Yavaş’s political background and his position within the CHP. Ünal argued that Yavaş has no organic ties to the left or social democracy, drawing attention to his right-wing and nationalist (ülkücü) past.
“Mansur Yavaş is someone who has very little to do with the Republican People’s Party, the Left, or Social Democracy, and in fact, does not even have such a background. He is a lawyer, and a figure whose right-wing and even nationalist identity has come to the fore.”
Ünal also claimed that the discussions surrounding Ekrem İmamoğlu’s presidential candidacy have bothered Yavaş. In his assessment on the program, Ünal stated that İmamoğlu acting like a candidate has “seriously hurt” Yavaş, and expressed that it would not be surprising for the Ankara Metropolitan Mayor to lean toward the ruling circle in the coming period.
“Therefore, it would not be very surprising; as you said, it would frankly not be a surprise for Mansur Yavaş to slowly lean toward this side.”
This assessment, made following the Yavaş-Erdoğan meeting, has caused the discussions on presidential candidacy within the opposition and the political contacts established through local administrations to return to the agenda.