Two candidates stand out for the AKP in Istanbul

There is less than 4 months left until the local elections. The AKP aims to win back the metropolitan municipalities it lost in 2019, primarily Istanbul and Ankara.

CHP'S IMM CANDIDATE IS IMAMOGLU

The CHP has nominated the incumbent mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu as its candidate for Istanbul in the local elections on March 31, 2024. It is being awaited with curiosity which name the AKP will nominate against İmamoğlu.

According to a report by Gazete Duvar, in Istanbul, where the AKP's candidate is the most curious subject, the needle turns to a different name every week. Most recently, two names have come to the fore.

WHOM WILL THE AKP NOMINATE IN ISTANBUL?

To date, the names most frequently mentioned for Istanbul have been Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya, Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca, former ministers Murat Kurum and Adil Karaismailoğlu, and Fatih Mayor Mehmet Ergün Turan. Among the names discussed is also Erdoğan's son-in-law Selçuk Bayraktar, but many AKP members say this is out of the question. In fact, there are those in the parliamentary corridors who say, "You have been in power for a quarter of the history of the Republic, and then you cannot find any candidate for Istanbul other than your son-in-law! That won't happen..."

TWO CANDIDATES STAND OUT THIS WEEK

Most recently, two names have come to the forefront within the AKP.

One is Fatih Mayor Mehmet Ergün Turan, who is stated to be one of the AKP's most successful mayors in Istanbul. It is noted that if Turan, who is from Trabzon, becomes the candidate, he would prevent İmamoğlu from consolidating Black Sea votes and could make a claim in the "race for municipal services" due to his successful work.

Furthermore, the fact that Turan is a former TOKİ President is also recorded as an advantage in terms of the agendas of housing problems, urban transformation, and earthquake preparedness.

On the other hand, the other name that has once again come to the fore in last week's barometer is Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca. It is being discussed that Koca, whose perception in the eyes of the public is considered positive, has the potential to receive votes from different segments, and could also be a center of attraction for Kurdish votes in Istanbul with his Kurdish identity.

News Source: 12punto