Election anxiety in IYI Party: We could fall apart
The IYI Party's decision to enter local elections 'freely and independently' has sparked internal debate. It has been learned that some party officials are concerned about a potential 'collapse' if the party fails in the local elections.
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As the local elections approach, the IYI Party has rejected the CHP's offer for cooperation.
The General Administrative Board's (GİK) decision to enter the 2024 elections 'freely and independently' has reignited debate within the IYI Party.
THE GOAL IS NOT TO WIN MUNICIPALITIES, BUT TO INCREASE VOTE SHARE
According to a report by Cumhuriyet, while it is emphasized in party circles that the IYI Party's goal in the local elections is not to win municipalities but to increase its vote share to 15 percent, some party officials say, "if the party fails to meet its target in the elections, it will fall apart."
It is stated that one of the reasons for the IYI Party's decision to enter the elections alone is to "give the party an institutional identity." If the party "raises its vote share to 15 percent" in the local elections, it calculates that "the path to power will open for the party" after the 2028 presidential and parliamentary elections.
NEW RESIGNATIONS MAY COME
However, it is noted that the rejection of cooperation has caused low morale among provincial and district organization members. Some officials are concerned that organizations, especially in Istanbul and Ankara—where members held meetings with Akşener and were open to cooperation—will not campaign, and that some district chairs may resign in the near future.
'SINGLE-PARTY POWER' GOAL
It is stated that after increasing the vote share in the local elections, the goal is to "enter the 2028 general elections as a strengthened IYI Party with an established institutional identity and achieve single-party power." Noting that if things go as planned, they believe their chances of coming to power are high as the only party capable of drawing votes from the AKP base, officials also underscore the risk that the party could rapidly collapse in the event of failure. It is also pointed out that if the IYI Party's vote share remains below 10 percent, the party may not be able to maintain its parliamentary group.