A new claim has been added to the debates regarding mayors changing parties following the local elections. Journalist İsmail Saymaz announced that a total of nine mayors, five of whom are from the CHP, are expected to join the AKP.
According to Saymaz, President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to attach the party pins to these individuals at the AKP Extended Provincial Chairmen Meeting to be held today.
Among the CHP mayors alleged to be joining the AKP are İzmir Çiğli Mayor Onur Emrah Yıldız, Tekirdağ Çerkezköy Mayor Vahap Akay, Balıkesir Marmara Mayor Aydın Dinçer, Antalya Elmalı Mayor Halil Öztürk, and Erzurum Şenkaya Mayor Görbil Özcan.
According to the claim, Kahramanmaraş Dulkadiroğlu Mayor Mehmet Akpınar, Türkoğlu Mayor Mehmet Karaca, and Elazığ Palu Mayor Muhammet Septioğlu from the New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) are also among the names expected to join the AKP. The list shared by Saymaz also includes IYI Party's Sivas Koyulhisar Mayor Bora Karakullukcu.
BIOGRAPHY AT ÇİĞLİ MUNICIPALITY DRAWS ATTENTION
Following the claims, a development regarding Çiğli Mayor Onur Emrah Yıldız also came to the fore. It was noted that statements regarding Yıldız's political background and his commitment to the CHP were removed from the biography section on the official website of the Çiğli Municipality.
Yıldız had also come to the public's attention due to layoffs at the municipality and debates regarding union rights since he took office. An official statement regarding whether the mayors will change parties is expected to be clarified after the meeting.
News Source: 12punto
