Özgür Özel's reaction to Erdoğan over 'investigation': 'Because they voted for us...'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel visited Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay.

Özel made statements to journalists following the visit.

Touching upon the Union of Municipalities of Turkey elections, in which Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu won against the AKP's candidate, Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç, Özel stated that his party had offered the AKP four seats in the administration, and one seat each to the MHP, New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah), and DEM Party.

"AN INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED IN THE PARTY BECAUSE AK PARTY MAYORS VOTED FOR US"

Stating that the proposal in question was rejected by the MHP and AKP, Özel reminded that they had nevertheless received votes from mayors of the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı).

Özel continued as follows:

"Our embracing attitude was adopted by a portion of the People's Alliance. They put forward their own candidates and lost, but an investigation has now been launched within the party because many AK Party mayors voted for us. Because we are fair, we are sharing."

WHAT HAPPENED?

In the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB) presidency election, CHP candidate IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and AKP candidate Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç had competed.

In the election held on June 5, İmamoğlu was elected TBB President with 515 votes, while the AKP's candidate Genç received 250 votes.

While the CHP had 448 delegates in the TBB, it emerged that some AKP mayors had also voted for İmamoğlu.

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the emergence of this picture, met with his party's head of local governments, Yusuf Ziya Yılmaz, and gave instructions to identify the individuals in question.