Izmir political scene: Will they continue with Tunç Soyer?

It had been claimed that the AKP would not field a candidate in Izmir and would instead support the IYI Party candidate Ümit Özlale.

Hürriyet columnist Deniz Sipahi stated that the AKP officials he spoke with denied this.

"THE CHANGE WILL BE IN THE DISTRICTS"

In his column today, Sipahi noted the following regarding the local elections:

"The candidacies of Ekrem İmamoğlu in Istanbul, Mansur Yavaş in Ankara, and Özlem Çerçioğlu in Aydın are certain... Özgür Özel also stands behind these three names. The AK Party will enter the election with strong candidates who can win Istanbul and Ankara. It is expected that the People's Alliance will go to the election with a joint candidate in Istanbul and Ankara.

It has been announced that the IYI Party's candidate in Izmir will be Ümit Özlale. There is talk in political circles that the AK Party will not field a candidate and will support Özlale. The AK Party officials I spoke with said that no such issue is on the table.

Özgür Özel will want to be successful in this first test. That is why it is said that he has wiped the slate clean regarding the party congress process. It is also being discussed in Ankara that Tunç Soyer is ahead as the incumbent mayor in Izmir, and that the real change will take place in the district municipalities."

News Source: 12punto