Özgür Özel-Mansur Yavaş meeting stirs up political circles: What was discussed?

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's remarks regarding Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş at the rally held in Trabzon have brought a new topic of speculation to the Ankara political scene.

During the rally, Özel conveyed Yavaş's greetings, stating, "We met with Mayor Mansur. His heart is with us. He is on the same sacred path as we are." Following this statement, varying information regarding how the meeting took place has been reflected in the public sphere.

Journalist Aytunç Erkin had previously stated in his initial reports, based on sources close to Yavaş, that the meeting took place not face-to-face, but over the phone. However, in his latest assessment during a live broadcast on TV100, Erkin said that Özel and Yavaş met face-to-face, not by phone.

According to Erkin, the meeting was held at Mansur Yavaş's office prior to the Trabzon program, upon the invitation of Özgür Özel. It was stated that details regarding the content of the contact between the two politicians have not been shared outside of limited circles.

Private meetings held one-on-one by key actors in Ankara politics are not disclosed unless there is mutual consent from both sides. The fact that even their close circles were unaware of the one-on-one meeting between Mr. Yavaş and Mr. Özel, and that they said 'it was only by phone' when asked, points to this confidentiality.

While Erkin commented that it was preferred for the meeting to remain secret, he evaluated Özel's statement in Trabzon as an "excited reflex."

It has also been claimed in political circles that the CHP Headquarters was aware of the contact in question. No official or detailed statement has been made by the parties regarding the meeting.

News Source: 12punto