Pro-government media begins perception operation regarding Demirtaş's candidacy
The AKP government, which has determined its election strategy by associating opposition parties with the DEM Party and terrorism, has shifted its focus back to Kurdish votes and cooperation with the DEM Party ahead of the local elections. Despite no definitive statement from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), news agencies close to the government are claiming that Başak Demirtaş will be a candidate for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and are frequently serving news about Demirtaş.
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Turkey will head to the polls for local elections on March 31, 2024. Istanbul is at the top of the list of cities where the critical election is most anticipated.
Aiming to win back the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), which it lost in 2019, the AKP has fielded Murat Kurum against IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
The İYİ Party, which decided to enter the local elections 'freely and independently,' has nominated Buğra Kavuncu in Istanbul.
While Birol Aydın became the Saadet Party's IMM candidate, the Zafer Party nominated Azmi Karamahmutoğlu.
ALL EYES TURNED TO DEM PARTY'S ISTANBUL DECISION
While there is curious anticipation regarding whether the DEM Party will field a candidate in Istanbul in the critical elections, the statement by Selahattin Demirtaş's wife, Başak Demirtaş, "If the people want it, and if our party deems it appropriate, and if we believe it will pave the way for democracy and social peace, we can consider it" has dominated the agenda.
The DEM Party front commented on Başak Demirtaş's candidacy move with the words, “It is pleasing for us that she has applied for candidacy. But our commissions and our Central Executive Board (MYK) will make the evaluation.”
NEWS IN PRO-GOVERNMENT MEDIA FAVORING DEMİRTAŞ'S CANDIDACY
While all eyes in the political arena are turned to the DEM Party's MYK meeting on February 3, news agencies and sources close to the government have begun serving news regarding Başak Demirtaş's IMM candidacy.
The İhlas News Agency (İHA) presented the news, which included archive footage of Başak Demirtaş, with the headline “Başak Demirtaş is preparing for IMM candidacy.”
While no definitive statement regarding Demirtaş's candidacy has come from DEM Party sources, it was noted that İHA reported it in this manner.
The Sabah newspaper, known for its proximity to the government, claimed in its news titled "The final blow also came from Demirtaş" that Başak Demirtaş had applied to the DEM Party for the IMM candidacy.
DENİZ ZEYREK HAD WRITTEN ABOUT THE AKP'S DEM PARTY PLAN
On the other hand, Sözcü columnist Deniz Zeyrek had written that the AKP is conducting intense propaganda for the DEM Party to field a candidate in the IMM.
Zeyrek, in his article titled ‘Difficult with Kurum, hope is in the DEM Party candidate!’ published on January 26, stated: “Meanwhile, the government must have realized that it will not get the result it expects from Kurum, so it has started an intense propaganda campaign for the DEM Party to field a candidate in Istanbul.
On one hand, they are trying to prevent a possible CHP-DEM Party relationship by associating it with the PKK and terrorism.
On the other hand, they are trying to engage in an unspoken negotiation with the DEM Party so that they field a candidate in Istanbul.”