Striking claim regarding İmamoğlu's candidacy: It was planned without Kılıçdaroğlu's knowledge!

A striking claim has emerged regarding the 2023 presidential election process. Journalist Nuray Başaran stated that the candidacy of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was actually planned in advance and that this announcement was expected to be made with the approval of the then-İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener. Başaran expressed that the plan was disrupted once CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu became aware of the development.

PREPARATIONS WERE MADE FOR İMAMOĞLU'S CANDIDACY

Participating in the program "What Will Happen Now?" hosted by Türker Akıncı on Beyaz TV, Nuray Başaran revealed that a ceremony to announce Ekrem İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy had been planned and that preparations for it were already underway. Başaran stated that during the Saraçhane rally held on December 15, 2022, even a janissary band and marching bands were ready for İmamoğlu's candidacy announcement.

According to Başaran, the intention was for Ekrem İmamoğlu's presidential candidacy to be announced at a pre-planned ceremony. However, this ceremony was intended to take place before Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's own candidacy announcement. This situation was recorded as a development that would have completely altered the dynamics within the CHP.

THE PROCESS CHANGED BECAUSE KEMAL KILIÇDAROĞLU WAS UNAWARE

Journalist Nuray Başaran stated that the then-İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener wanted to see Ekrem İmamoğlu as the candidate and even encouraged him to take a bold step toward this candidacy. However, the fact that CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu became aware of these developments while he was in Germany changed the process significantly.

Başaran used the following expressions:

"İmamoğlu's candidacy announcement was planned without Kemal Bey's knowledge. However, when Kılıçdaroğlu became aware of these developments while he was in Germany, he changed the course of the process."

Başaran stated that Meral Akşener supported Ekrem İmamoğlu's candidacy and wanted to encourage him in that direction. However, Başaran claimed that at the time, İmamoğlu could not muster the necessary courage to announce the ceremony that day. She noted that in her statements at the time, Akşener had pointed only to Ekrem İmamoğlu and Mansur Yavaş as candidates who could win.