The administration appointed in the Republican People's Party (CHP) following a court ruling has decided not to field a candidate for the deputy presidency election to be held tomorrow at the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB).
Müslim Sarı, spokesperson for the interim administration, announced that the CHP will support Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce, who is the candidate of the YENİ Party in the election. The YENİ Party had nominated Ünlüce for the TBB deputy presidency.
The People's Alliance candidate is Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın. The deputy president will be determined by the votes of TBB Assembly members in the ballot to be held on Thursday, October 15.
NUMERICAL BALANCE IN THE ASSEMBLY
The distribution in the 821-member TBB Assembly is as follows: AKP 304, CHP 261, YENİ Party 131, MHP 57, DEM Party 56, New Welfare Party 9, and IYI Party 3 members.
According to this picture, the total number of members of the People's Alliance is 361. If the CHP and the YENİ Party act together, the number rises to 392. If the 56 members of the DEM Party also provide support, this bloc can reach 448 votes.
The new election process in the TBB began after Union President Vahap Seçer was arrested on October 6 and removed from office by the Ministry of Interior. Seçer had been elected Union President at the TBB Ordinary Assembly Meeting held on May 2, 2026.
Previously, after Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested and removed from office on March 23, 2025, the presidency of the TBB changed hands; Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar was elected deputy president on March 28, 2025. Following Karalar's arrest, Vahap Seçer was brought to the deputy presidency with 446 votes in the election held on July 16, 2025.
News Source: 12punto
