AKP's initial offer to YRP for an alliance revealed

Turkey has entered the local election atmosphere. 

While the AKP aims to reclaim the metropolitan municipalities it lost in 2019, particularly Istanbul and Ankara, its ongoing alliance negotiations with the Yeniden Refah Party have stalled.

Following the AKP's announcement of all its candidates, eyes have turned to the Yeniden Refah Party.

Sözcü columnist İsmail Saymaz spoke with Yeniden Refah Party Deputy Chairman Mehmet Altunöz about the alliance negotiations being conducted with the AKP. 

Altunöz announced that the AKP had offered municipal council memberships in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir for the alliance.

Here is the interview Saymaz conducted with Altunöz;

The AK Party has announced its candidates. There are no places left for you to request from the AK Party. Am I guessing wrong?

Correct. In any case, what they would offer was more important than what we would ask for.

What did they offer?

Council memberships in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. We said, 'Do not come with council memberships; we will not accept them. Bring an offer appropriate to our party's strength so that we can negotiate.' Then the communication traffic stopped.

When did you last meet?

It was supposed to be discussed last Monday, but the traffic stopped. They said, “We will consult with the President and return.” It stayed there. We did not have a demand such as this district in Istanbul or that one in Ankara.

Will there be a surprise?

It won't be that easy. After the AK Party has announced all the locations, what will they offer us? There is nothing left to offer. If we support the AK Party's candidates in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, 30-35 percent of our vote goes away. I am providing support. Well? I would like to receive something in return.

Let's say the AK Party does not change its decision. Will you make a decision not to field a candidate so that the CHP does not take Istanbul and Ankara?

We will not. We will field our candidate. We have done more than our part within the People's Alliance. There is no issue of national survival in the local elections.

Yesterday, the AK Party and the YRP held a surprise meeting.

I called Altınöz again.

What is the latest situation?

A meeting will be held with the AK Party in the evening. This is a new development.

How do you interpret this?

We will see, let's see what they say. We have no enthusiasm for an alliance. The alliance brings us nothing.

Your spokesperson Suat Kılıç says, 'We do not want a second İmamoğlu era to be experienced.' Are you acting on a principle of not giving Istanbul to İmamoğlu?

There is no such principle. We want to enter with our candidate and win the election. İmamoğlu is also our rival.

News Source: 12punto