Political corridors stir: High-ranking IYI Party official reveals who could persuade Akşener

Meetings between Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu with IYI Party leader Meral Akşener have stirred political corridors. Some IYI Party staff members stated that negotiations between the two parties will continue. It was learned that a high-ranking official commented, "If anyone can persuade Ms. Akşener, it is İmamoğlu."

12punto 25 November 2023

With approximately 4 months left until the local elections, whether the opposition will form an alliance remains a subject of curiosity.

While the IYI Party has closed the doors to an alliance with the CHP by deciding to field candidates in all 81 provinces, Chairperson Meral Akşener continues to announce mayoral candidates in every program.

According to a report by Cumhuriyet; some staff members within the IYI Party argue that the incumbent mayors in Ankara and Istanbul should be supported. The CHP, having left its party congress process behind, continues to send messages to the IYI Party regarding an alliance.

While alliance discussions continue, the visit of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş to IYI Party leader Akşener has stirred political corridors.

'COURTESY' VISIT FROM YAVAŞ, PHONE CALL FROM İMAMOĞLU

Yavaş described the meeting as a "courtesy visit." At the beginning of the week, IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu spoke with Akşener over the phone. In his statement regarding the meeting, İmamoğlu noted that they had not made a plan for a face-to-face meeting with Akşener but that they could meet at any time, saying, "We will also pay a visit soon."

İMAMOĞLU THANKS AKŞENER

İmamoğlu stated, "Ultimately, we set out five years ago as the mayoral candidates of the Nation Alliance and won the election. Until this term ends, we are the mayors representing that alliance. We shared our thoughts on the current agenda. They also expressed that they are open to communication. I thank them for such a conversation and exchange of views."

ACCORDING TO IYI PARTY STAFF, NEGOTIATIONS WILL CONTINUE

IYI Party staff members state that these consecutive meetings will continue and that contacts between the two parties regarding cooperation in metropolitan cities will persist. Staff members from the CHP also say that a meeting between Özel and Akşener could take place in the coming days. A high-ranking official from the IYI Party commented on the subject, saying, "If anyone can persuade Ms. Akşener, it is İmamoğlu." Staff members from both parties say that party leaders could come together in the coming days for cooperation in certain regions.