Claim: AKP to transfer another CHP metropolitan mayor! 'The number will reach 100'

The AKP, which suffered a defeat in the March 31 Local Elections, has increased the number of municipalities under its control since that date by transferring mayors from opposition-held municipalities.

As operations targeting CHP municipalities continue, it has been claimed that defections to the AKP will continue in the coming days.

Following the transfer of Aydın Metropolitan Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu, it is alleged that another metropolitan mayor will join the AKP.

Most recently, with the participation of Beykoz Deputy Mayor Özlem Vural Gürzel, the number of mayors who have transferred to the AKP rose to 59. According to a report by the pro-government newspaper Türkiye, this number could reach 100.

The same report claims that some CHP mayors wish to switch to the AKP, but are acting cautiously based on the outcome of the postponed party congress lawsuit and the possibility of former Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu returning to the party.

It has been claimed that Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, who recently made headlines with rumors that he would join the AKP—reports he denied—is continuing his contacts with AKP figures.

Sources close to Bozbey noted that he could resign from the CHP and switch to the AKP, and that the transfer is imminent.

According to the claim, along with Bozbey, 2 district mayors in Bursa will also transfer to the AKP. Those names are as follows:

Nilüfer Mayor Şadi Özdemir

Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın

If Bozbey's transition to the AKP is finalized, the number of metropolitan municipalities under AKP control will rise to 14.

Bozbey denied the claims that he would switch to the AKP last August and shared a video. Stating, "The people of Bursa know us well," Bozbey said the following:

"Of course, we are at our post. We are serving Bursa with all our might, and we will continue to serve. Since the day we took office, we have implemented many important projects that add value to our city and touch the lives of the people of Bursa, and we continue to do so.

We are delivering these services to the people of Bursa in a participatory, transparent manner, and especially without marginalizing anyone. We are also continuously working on even bigger projects.

I do not even take into account the claims spread by unknown sources on social media. These claims can have only one purpose.

While we are at our post producing projects and desiring to see our citizens smile, they are, on the contrary, chasing other things.

Bursa gave us its approval a year and a half ago, and it trusted us to fulfill the demands of the people of Bursa and to serve them; in line with this trust, we are continuing this mandate in the way they want and desire.

We will continue to serve Bursa and solve the problems of the people of Bursa. We will do this transparently, fairly, and without marginalizing anyone.

Because we love the people of Bursa. The people of Bursa know Mustafa Bozbey well. The people of Bursa know very well what kind of personality and identity Mustafa Bozbey has. That is why I love the people of Bursa. The people of Bursa have united. Bursa has integrated. No one will ever be able to break this integration, this unity, this togetherness."