Main opposition CHP leader calls for early municipal elections in Istanbul

Serkan Alan / DUVAR

Turkish main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Dec. 26 called for early elections for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and all other municipalities within the megacity.

Kılıçdaroğlu’s comments came after a Turkish court on Dec. 14 sentenced Mayor İmamoğlu from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to two years and seven months in prison on charges of “insulting” 11 members of Turkey's High Election Board (YSK). The court also imposed a political ban on İmamoğlu, a popular rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which must be confirmed by an appeals court before application.

“Let's immediately hold elections for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and all municipalities in Istanbul. If (Erdoğan) has the heart and courage, we openly challenge him,” Kılıçdaroğlu said during a meeting with the representatives of internet news outlets.

“If you believe in democracy, the strongest will is the will of the nation, so let's go and hold the election immediately,” he added.

Kılıçdaroğlu said İmamoğlu would be the candidate for mayorship if the elections are renewed.

Kılıçdaroğlu also talked about the recent debates on who will be the presidential candidate of the opposition bloc in the June 2023 elections.

Kılıçdaroğlu once again said the Table of Six were united to change the presidential system, and it is more important to talk about the change of system rather than the candidate. 

He said the Table will select the candidate after determining criteria.

“Table of Six” is the name of alliance of the six opposition parties that are united to change Turkey’s presidential regime, consisting the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), centre-right İYİ (Good) Party, Islamist Felicity (Saadet) Party, Democrat Party (DP), DEVA (Democracy and Progress) Party and Future (Gelecek) Party.

When asked “You said that the candidate is not on our agenda, but it is on the agenda of the people and there is also an expectation as to who will be. Isn't that an obstacle for you?” Kılıçdaroğlu blamed the media and said it spread negative influence.

“You guys are the ones creating the negative influence. We are not. We continue on our way,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, adding that Erdoğan also influences the media on this issue. 

While there are rumors that opposition Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener favors İmamoğlu instead of Kılıçdaroğlu, some senior CHP figures claimed that Kılıçdaroğlu will be their candidate.

Some experts say that CHP’s Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu or Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş should run for presidency because Kılıçdaroğlu may not attract enough conservative voters from the ruling alliance. They also say Erdoğan's election campaign may prevail against Kılıçdaroğlu because of the former's rhetoric.

The court process and the conviction also boosted İmamoğlu’s popularity. He has been mooted as a possible challenger and polls suggest he would defeat Erdoğan.

Nowadays, people who favor İmamoğlu and people who favor Kılıçdaroğlu for the candidacy severely argue with each other on social media. These arguments were interpreted as the opposition bloc’s inability to unite.

Kılıçdaroğlu denied the rumors that he and Akşener are not getting along over these debates. “We don't have any issues. We are talking to each other occasionally,” he said.

He added that the Table will not be dissolved and that their candidate will win the elections against Erdoğan.