Backstage buzz: This name is emerging as the AKP's candidate for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality!
As the local elections approach, there is great curiosity about whom the AKP will nominate for Istanbul. According to claims, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya will be the AKP's candidate for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB).
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There are approximately 4 months left until the March 31, 2024, local elections. While alliance discussions continue within the opposition, the AKP aims to reclaim the metropolitan municipalities it lost in 2019, primarily Istanbul and Ankara.
Although names such as Esenler Mayor Tevfik Göksu, former Environment Minister Murat Kurum, and Health Minister Fahrettin Koca are among the AKP figures who could compete for Istanbul in the local elections, one of the strong figures emerging in the backstage is Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
YERLİKAYA ON THE AGENDA
It has been claimed that Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who has been on the agenda with the operations he has carried out since taking office, will be the AKP's candidate for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Although sources close to Yerlikaya state that the Interior Minister will definitely not be a candidate, Yerlikaya has not made a direct statement on the matter.
According to a report by Cumhuriyet; it is also stated that a large capital group, which draws attention with the public tenders it has received and is known for its closeness to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, supports Ali Yerlikaya's candidacy and will stand by him during the process.
DECEMBER 1 IS THE DEADLINE
On the other hand, the Supreme Election Council (YSK) recently announced that public officials who wish to be candidates in the Local Administration Elections to be held on March 31, 2024, must submit their requests to resign from their posts by 17:00 on Friday, December 1. Accordingly, Yerlikaya must resign by December 1 to be a candidate.
DISTRICT SEARCH FOR TEVFİK GÖKSU
There is also a claim that the other name who wants to compete in the elections and is rumored to be a candidate is İBB AKP Group Deputy Chairman Mehmet Tevfik Göksu. It is alleged that Göksu, who is caught by the three-term rule in Esenler, is searching for another district. On the other hand, it is stated that New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) Chairman Fatih Erbakan would support Göksu if he were nominated for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.