Candidate crisis in CHP Istanbul: District organization protesting the candidate calls out Özgür Özel

Following a series of resignations in the Republican People's Party (CHP) after the announcement of mayoral candidates for the March 31, 2024, local elections, internal party discussions continue.

The nomination of Mustafa Oktay Aksu to replace the incumbent mayor Şükrü Genç in Sarıyer has sparked reactions within the party.

In a statement issued by the municipality, an open call was made to Chairman Özgür Özel, as well as members of the Central Executive Committee (MYK) and the Party Assembly (PM).

The statement included the views of mayoral candidates Şükrü Genç, Erol Aydın, Serdar Sarıakçalı, and Dr. Cengiz Alp regarding the reaction to the Republican People's Party's mayoral candidate in Sarıyer, which also involved NGOs and neighborhood associations.

The declaration stated that they felt it was their duty to make this statement with only days left until the elections on March 31, 2024, and reminded that it was publicly declared at the party congress that a process based on interviews, preference polls, and public opinion surveys would be implemented during the candidate selection process.

The statement, which noted that 17 candidates emerged in Sarıyer based on these principles and expectations, recorded the following:

"However, with the appointment made, contrary to all polls and surveys, the person who ranked last among 17 candidates in Sarıyer was appointed. It is not just us who decided to issue a joint statement; the people of Sarıyer are also angry, shocked, and up in arms against this fait accompli. This is a refusal to accept this injustice.

It is as clear as day that the 15-year Republican People's Party administration in Sarıyer, where we have increased our party's votes, will be lost. As the people of Sarıyer and the mayoral candidates, we want the headquarters and the decision-makers to know that we are not responsible for this burden. From now on, the responsibility for losing Sarıyer lies on your shoulders, not ours.

We once again demand that this decision be reconsidered on behalf of all our voters who have given their hearts to our party, our women, our children, our fishermen, our tradespeople, and our neighbors who fear for their property rights."

News Source: AA