The name being discussed in AKP corridors for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has emerged! 'If İmamoğlu receives a sentence...'

The AKP, which suffered a defeat in the local elections on March 31, 2024, has transferred numerous mayors.

Following operations targeting municipalities and the arrest and removal of mayors from office, there have been municipalities that switched to the AKP during the subsequent acting mayor elections.

Most recently, while the Menderes Municipality passed to the AKP following an election where fists were thrown, it is being discussed in political circles that the government's real target is the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Journalist Barış Yarkadaş, known for his proximity to the administration within the CHP, has put forward a striking claim regarding the IMM.

Yarkadaş stated that if Ekrem İmamoğlu receives a potential political ban and his mayorship ends, a new mayoral election could come to the agenda at the IMM.

Yarkadaş said that the AKP is preparing for this possibility and that the name of Ümraniye Mayor İsmet Yıldırım has come to the fore for candidacy.

Yarkadaş used the following expressions in his statement:

"We have said that if Ekrem İmamoğlu receives a sentence, becomes politically banned, and his mayorship is terminated, a new mayor will be elected in the IMM Assembly.

As you know, when a mayor's term ends, district mayors can be candidates for the metropolitan mayorship.

The AK Party is also making preparations regarding this matter.

According to the information I have obtained, as of today, the mayoral candidate in the minds of AK Party members is Ümraniye Mayor İsmet Yıldırım.

It is being discussed that they will nominate İsmet Yıldırım."