After Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s defeat against incumbent President Erdoğan in the last elections, there have been loud calls for Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu’s resignation. However there is no clear indicator as to who would succeed the 74 year old veteran politician and party chair. One likely candidate could be Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who famously broke the ruling party AKP’s winning streak in Istanbul when he won the local election in 2019.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, responded to journalists’ questions yesterday (June 11th) regarding his potential bid for party chair. In typical Turkish political fashion, Imamoğlu was both cryptic but not shy about asserting his opinion. Emphasizing the theme of “change,” İmamoğlu stated, “I have shared my ideas with my party, and I am determined to reach our goals.”
“I am determined that in order for a permanent democratic order to exist in this country, not a system dependent on individuals, but within our party as well.” Imamoğlu, stating that change has yielded good results in Istanbul, said, “I am confident that this change in politics, especially starting from the opposition and within my own party, will be very beneficial for Turkey. There is an Ekrem Imamoğlu who is determined to walk the path with this enthusiasm, pride, and ideals.”
Imamoğlu concluded his words as follows: “I am certain that there are millions of people in Istanbul who think like Ekrem Imamoğlu. There are millions of people in Turkey, hundreds of thousands of people in my party. We will pursue this and ultimately achieve the success of change. This success will bring us much more beautiful, determined, consistent, and lasting achievements beyond our expectations in local elections and subsequent general elections.”
In the 2019 Istanbul mayoral election, İmamoğlu ran as the candidate of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), one of the major political parties in Turkey. After a closely contested election and subsequent re-run, İmamoğlu emerged as the winner, defeating the ruling party candidate. His victory was widely seen as a significant political shift and an indication of the changing dynamics in Turkish politics.
Prior to Kılıçdaroğlu’s nomination for the Presidential ticket, along with Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, Kılıçdaroğlu was seen as one of the safest bets for the candidacy, owing to his favorable poll numbers. Istanbul as major metropolitan city is also considered extremely politically diverse and a good representation of different political leanings in the country, prompting the conventional wisdom mantra: “Whoever wins İstanbul, wins Turkey”.
Ekrem İmamoğlu’s rise to prominence and his tenure as Istanbul’s mayor have made him a prominent figure in Turkish politics. He is known for his progressive stance, commitment to democratic principles, and emphasis on good governance. İmamoğlu’s popularity and achievements have positioned him as a potential contender in national politics, attracting attention both domestically and internationally.
On 14 December 2022, Ekrem İmamoğlu was sentenced to two years in prison for calling the Turkish Supreme Election Council “fools” during the tumultuous election period. While his sentence will be commuted, his conviction comes with a lifetime ban from politics. A move seen by many as politically motivated for AKP to retake perhaps the most important office in the country after the Presidency.
