Butlan administration to challenge deputy mayoral election in Menderes

Making a statement following the Central Executive Board meeting of the CHP's Butlan administration, Party Spokesperson Müslim Sarı announced that they will challenge the deputy mayoral election at Menderes Municipality.

Stating that they held discussions throughout the process with municipal council members who left the CHP, Sarı argued that an elected mayor should continue from the party they were elected from, in accordance with the will of the people. Sarı said they made efforts to ensure Menderes Municipality remained with the CHP and that a candidate proposed by the CHP was elected as deputy mayor.

Providing information regarding the composition of the municipal council, Sarı stated that there are 5 members from the CHP, 10 members who moved to the New Party, 12 members in the People's Alliance, and 2 independent members. Noting that the CHP fielded its own candidate in the first two rounds, Sarı stated that they gave instructions to support the New Party candidate in the final round to prevent the municipality from passing to the AKP.

Sarı said, "I personally made this phone call. As the will of Kılıçdaroğlu. I personally gave the instruction to support the New Party candidate, who received more votes and has more members than us, so that the municipality would not pass to the AKP."

Stating that as a result of the vote, the New Party candidate received 12 votes and the AKP candidate received 15, Sarı argued that there were no CHP members among the votes received by the AKP. Sarı stated that 4 out of the 5 CHP members voted for the New Party candidate, while 1 member cast an invalid vote; he noted that this person was referred to disciplinary proceedings and has resigned.

Sarı claimed that a fight broke out in the hall on the day of the election and that the fight took place between the AKP and the New Party. Saying, "As of today, we will challenge the Menderes elections. We are pursuing our municipality," Sarı noted that they will follow the process closely.

News Source: 12punto