Striking claim from AKP corridors: When was the detention plan for İmamoğlu first discussed? 'One group prevailed over the other'

While echoes continue regarding the detention process initiated against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, striking information discussed in the corridors is being reflected to the public. Nefes newspaper columnist Nuray Babacan shed light on the behind-the-scenes of the process by sharing insider information she obtained from the ruling party wing.

According to what Babacan conveyed in her article, the first attempt to detain İmamoğlu took place months ago, in February. However, it is stated that some figures intervened at that time and blocked this attempt.

''IT IS DESCRIBED AS PREVENTING AN OPERATION''

According to what is discussed in AKP corridors, it is stated that when the detention plan, which was being prepared in February, was heard, some important figures in the party intervened in the process. Babacan conveyed this situation as follows:

“While this is described by some AKP officials as ‘preventing an operation,’ the operation that took place on March 19 also showed that some groups in the party have prevailed over others.”

THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS PREPARED MONTHS AGO

Nuray Babacan also shared insider information about how the detention process was organized in the media and through social media trolls.

According to the allegations, it is being discussed that the necessary preparations for presenting the process to the public were made months in advance. It was claimed that information flow was provided in advance to specific names in the pro-government media and social media accounts, and that content was created accordingly.

Another point that draws attention in Babacan's article was about the dominant view within the AKP. It was stated that the group effective in the party acts with the understanding that “all means are permissible to achieve the goal” when determining strategy.

Babacan stated that in private meetings held with ministers and party executives, some actors shared their ideas by saying “don't do it that way, this is smarter” and directed the processes.

The relevant section from Nuray Babacan’s article titled ‘They tried it a month ago’ is as follows:

Immediately after the local elections, it had started to be discussed that President Tayyip Erdoğan was making plans regarding Istanbul and Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Those in the AKP who found this too ambitious at the time, and those who said ‘Don't exaggerate, the situation won't reach this point’ when issues like detaining İmamoğlu or appointing a trustee to Istanbul came to the agenda, are now silent...

We later learned that; the first attempt regarding the detention of İmamoğlu took place in February. It was conveyed that when it was heard that preparations were being made on this matter, some figures intervened and prevented the detention.

While this is described by some AKP officials as ‘preventing an operation,’ the March 19 coup also showed that some people's power in the party is greater than others!

(…)

In the corridors, it is being discussed how the infrastructure of this process was built months ago, and how it was served to trolls and ‘assigned persons’ in the pro-government media.

It is recounted that in their conversations with ministers and party executives starting with ‘brother,’ they shared their ideas by saying ‘don't do it that way, this is smarter.’

Let us convey that the dominant team within the party currently consists of those who say ‘all means are permissible to achieve the goal’...