Statement from YENİ Party's Yaşar Tüzün after UMB election: “Let this be the last election”

Speaking after the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMB) deputy chairmanship election, Yaşar Tüzün congratulated Ayşe Ünlüce and sent greetings to imprisoned mayors.

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources! Don't leave your news to an algorithmYou decide which source to read; add 12punto to your preferred sources.

Statement from YENİ Party's Yaşar Tüzün after UMB election: “Let this be the last election”

YENİ Party Deputy Chairman Yaşar Tüzün congratulated Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce in a statement following the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMB) deputy chairmanship election.

Speaking to journalists in Ankara after the election, Tüzün noted that there have been consecutive elections at the UMB since the 2024 local elections, stating, “I hope that as of today, this election will be the last.”

Recalling that Ekrem İmamoğlu, Zeydan Karalar, and Vahap Seçer had previously served in the UMB, Tüzün said he believes that in the new process, Ünlüce “will serve as chair in the best possible way according to proportional representation.”

Greetings from prison to our mayors who are being tried and imprisoned unjustly and unlawfully. Their legacy has been taken over here once again today.
— Yaşar Tüzün

In his statement, Tüzün also touched upon his party's position in local governments, noting that following the last local elections, what he referred to as “their party at the time” won 411 mayoralties across Türkiye and managed a significant portion of the provinces that control two-thirds of the population and the budget.

Tüzün stated that a new roadmap was formed following the processes directed at mayors and the “nullity decision,” and that the YENİ Party was established within this framework. Tüzün claimed that 262 mayors across Türkiye have resigned from the CHP to date.

Responding to certain statements within the CHP, Tüzün mentioned that while a figure of 251 is cited “on paper,” he alleged that a significant portion of this number is in cooperation with the YENİ Party. He claimed that 98 delegates in Istanbul are waiting to become members of the YENİ Party.

Citing the elections in Mersin's Yenişehir Municipality as an example, Tüzün said that a significant portion of the council members who appear to be registered with the CHP did not support the CHP candidate. Stating that representatives from different political leanings voted for Ayşe Ünlüce in the UMB election, Tüzün expressed that he does not agree with the assessment that “we did not field a candidate, she won thanks to us.”