Turkish main opposition CHP to name presidential candidate on March 23 with primary

Main opposition CHP leader Özel announced that the party primary to name the presidential candidate will be held on March 23, increasing the pressure on the government to hold early elections.

Tuesday February 11 2025 11:21 pm

CHP leader Özgür Özel speaking during his party's parliamentary group meeting on Feb. 11, 2025.

Duvar English

Turkish main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is increasing its pressure on the government to hold early elections.

In a new announcement, party leader Özgür Özel said they would their party primary to name the presidential candidate on March 23.

Holding party primaries to name high-level candidates is an uncommon move in the Turkish politics.

Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting on Feb. 11, Özel announced the primary date as March 23, in which all CHP members can vote.

Özel said Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş would not participate in the primary as “We discussed and agreed on the demand and suggestion that two names that have given hope to Turkey should not wear each other out by competing in the primary elections.”

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is expected to be announced as the party’s presidential candidate as he is facing increasing pressure by the government through judicial investigations.

In a social media statement, Yavaş said on the same day that “We are united and together (as the CHP) for our country to have good days, for pensioners, minimum wage earners, students, workers to be comfortable, and for parliamentary democracy to be restored.”

Pazar günü Genel Başkanımız Sayın Özgür Özel ve İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanımız Ekrem İmamoğlu ile birlikte gerçekleştirdiğimiz görüşme fotoğraf karelerine yansıdı.

Ülkemizin güzel günlere kavuşması, emeklilerin, asgari ücretlinin, öğrencilerin, işçilerin rahata…
— Mansur Yavaş (@mansuryavas06) February 11, 2025

There are rumors that İmamoğlu and Yavaş may both become candidates in the upcoming election.

The parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled to be held in 2028 but the main opposition CHP has been increasing its pressure for an early election as they are facing a new wave of crackdown attempts through judicial investigations.

“The election council does not start the election process, the nation does, the nation's election process has started. Of course we want early elections. If we want early elections, we have duties,” Özel said, adding that the party announced the candidate too late in the 2014, 2018 and 2023 elections.

The social democrat CHP became first in the 2024 local elections, as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) became second in an election for the first time in its 23-year history.