Inside track on Mansur Yavaş from İsmail Saymaz: 'I won't be surprised if he announces he won't be a presidential candidate'

Sözcü columnist and journalist İsmail Saymaz has shared striking inside information regarding the political future of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş in his column.

Evaluating the steps Yavaş has taken recently and his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saymaz suggested that the Ankara Metropolitan Mayor might be gradually withdrawing from politics.

While Saymaz remarked, "Mr. Mansur is slowly withdrawing," he noted that Yavaş is trying to stay away from the tension between the CHP and the 'New Party'.

THE FATES OF YAVAŞ AND GÖKÇEK INTERSECT

In his article, Saymaz also drew attention to the change in the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the investigations conducted into former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Melih Gökçek and his family.

Stating that comments such as "an operation against the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality is on the way" were made following the appointment of Aykut Çelik as the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor, Saymaz emphasized that Mansur Yavaş is one of the opposition's strong names for the presidential elections.

Stating that Yavaş has come to the forefront following the legal processes experienced by Ekrem İmamoğlu, Saymaz used the following expressions:

"What remains is Yavaş. He looks at what happened to İmamoğlu and sees the cost of posing a risk to the establishment, Yavaş."

Saymaz also argued that the political fates of Yavaş and Melih Gökçek intersect at a point, writing, "Perhaps the fates of Mansur Yavaş and Melih Gökçek are tied to each other."

"THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS IN BEŞTEPE'S GAME PLAN"

Saymaz also made a striking assessment regarding the government's election strategy.

Arguing that the conditions for an election where Erdoğan "either runs alone or is guaranteed to win" have already been created, Saymaz claimed that Mansur Yavaş is also a target in Beştepe's political plan.

Saymaz stated, "In Beştepe's game plan, there is no room for any exceptions, starting with Yavaş."

Arguing that the biggest obstacle to a possible investigation into Yavaş is public perception, Saymaz assessed, "A substantial justification is needed to convince the public to allow touching Yavaş."

ATTENTION DRAWN TO GÖKÇEK INVESTIGATION

Saymaz also included in his article that Melih Gökçek was summoned to testify as part of a money laundering investigation, and that a travel ban was imposed on Gökçek's son and daughter-in-law.

Evaluating these developments in terms of Mansur Yavaş, Saymaz said, "What did the establishment do? It proved that it could sacrifice Gökçek and his family if necessary."

Drawing attention to the developments between August 25 and September 9, Saymaz listed Yavaş requesting an appointment from Erdoğan, the investigation into the Gökçek family, and Yavaş being accepted by Erdoğan at Beştepe in succession.

He commented on these developments, saying, "How the fates of Yavaş and Gökçek are intertwined in 15 days, isn't it? You couldn't arrange it this well!"

"ERDOĞAN DROPPED A BOMB INTO THE OPPOSITION"

In the statement he made after his meeting with Erdoğan, Mansur Yavaş had stated that metro investments and ongoing projects were discussed.

However, Saymaz does not believe that the meeting was limited only to municipal investments.

Saymaz, who said, "I don't believe at all that Erdoğan would leave his toughest rival with a chat about the metro," also drew attention to Erdoğan accepting Yavaş on September 9, the anniversary of the founding of the CHP.

Arguing that this meeting could have political consequences for the opposition, Saymaz assessed, "By accepting Yavaş on September 9, the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the CHP, Erdoğan dropped a bomb into the opposition."

"MR. MANSUR IS SLOWLY WITHDRAWING"

Stating that Yavaş has been trying to stay away from the tension between the CHP and the 'New Party' recently, Saymaz also recalled a statement previously made by the Ankara Metropolitan Mayor.

Including Yavaş's words, "If this attitude of mine is seen as a cause for discomfort by the headquarters of the two parties, I will not hesitate to do what is necessary," Saymaz also conveyed that he heard a striking assessment from Yavaş's close circle.

Accordingly, in Yavaş's close circle, the assessment is made that, "If it goes on like this, Mr. Mansur will do his mayorship and close the book on politics."

Following these assessments, Saymaz expressed his own interpretation as follows:

"As you can see... Mr. Mansur is slowly withdrawing."

"WE WILL REMAIN INDEPENDENT" CLAIM

Suggesting that Yavaş might resign in the near future, citing the tension between the CHP and the 'New Party' as a reason, Saymaz stated that he does not think the Ankara Metropolitan Mayor will join the AKP.

Conveying that he heard the words "We will remain independent" from a politician close to him, Saymaz claimed that in addition to Yavaş, the mayors of Polatlı and Beypazarı could also continue their paths as independents.

"I WON'T BE SURPRISED IF HE ANNOUNCES HE WON'T BE A CANDIDATE"

The most striking assessment in Saymaz's article was regarding Yavaş's presidential candidacy.

Suggesting that Yavaş might announce before the election that he will not be a presidential candidate and that he is withdrawing from politics, Saymaz used the expressions, "I won't be surprised if Yavaş announces before the election that he will not be a presidential candidate and that he is withdrawing from politics."

Evaluating the opposition's election plans, Saymaz argued that the possibility of Yavaş's candidacy weakened after the meeting between Erdoğan and Yavaş on September 9.

Saymaz concluded his article with the following assessment:

"The opposition should now make its plans for the election without Mansur Yavaş. Because Yavaş appears to have removed presidential candidacy from his future plans."