Turkey local elections: Turmoil in former opposition partner following crushing defeat

After the local elections on Sunday (March 31st), the primary opposition party CHP secured the majority of votes, while its previous coalition ally, the İYİ Party, managed to obtain only 3.7%. With the decision of the party leader Meral Akşener to dissolve the coalition, the İYİ Party could only secure 23 districts and a single mayoral seat nationwide. The disappointing outcome of the election has caused unrest within the party, which began on election night and could potentially result in Akşener being deposed as the chair.

Once a formidable force in the political arena, İYİ Party, which once secured 7.76% of the votes in the 2019 local elections, now faces the prospect of fading into irrelevance due to its poor performance on Sunday. Despite serving as the primary ally of the CHP in the 2023 general elections, the İYİ Party experienced a notable and public fallout following the narrow defeat of the opposition last year, which resulted in incumbent President Erdoğan securing another 5 years in office. However, the decision by İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener to dissolve the coalition and launch attacks against the CHP and its mayoral candidates may have been a significant political misstep. In the months leading up to the election, Akşener declared that the İYİ Party would run independently, disregarding pleas of the CHP’s new leader, Özgür Özel.

Call for Akşener to resign

Amidst the defeat last Sunday, Buğra Kavuncu, the İstanbul mayoral candidate of the İYİ Party, stepped down from his role as the Head of Party Organization. Kavuncu, who received only 0.63% of the votes in the Istanbul race, will continue to serve as an İYİ Party Istanbul Deputy, as stated in the party’s announcement.

Following Kavuncu’s resignation however, Burak Akburak, head of Local Governance, also announced his resignation from the Party, stating: 

“I am stepping down from my role as the Presidency of Local Governments, which I have fulfilled with utmost honor. I want to emphasize that our grand congress will affirm that the İYİ Party is the hope of Turkey. I will always stand by our leader.”

On the night of the election, İYİ Party Economic Policy Chief President Bilge Yılmaz also announced his resignation from the party only hours after the polls closed and called for Akşener’s resignation, stating:

“I am urging the Honorable Meral Akşener, the President of the İYİ Party, to resign. 

It is imperative that we begin working today to liberate our country from the terrible and incompetent governance of AKP in the upcoming general elections. The results clearly indicate that we have a great deal of work ahead of us, and we cannot afford to waste any time. 

To be able to focus  more effort towards this goal, I am stepping down from my role as the President of Economic Policies in the İYİ Party.”

Was the decision to run independently the right one?

The decision by the İYİ Party to run independently in the local elections and reject the collaboration offer from the CHP sparked extensive debate within the opposition, as it was widely anticipated that this move would serve as a spoiler effect, ultimately harming both parties. One of Akşener’s grievances about being part of a coalition was that it prevented the İYİ Party from presenting its policies to the electorate, a situation she believed would be rectified by running independently.

A source speaking to Medyascope noted that while there were concerns that the İYİ Party would split the opposition votes, potentially leading to another victory for the AKP, incumbent mayors Ekrem İmamoğlu of Istanbul and Mansur Yavaş of Ankara managed to consolidate support in their respective cities, while the CHP itself appears to have garnered the overwhelming majority of opposition votes nationwide.

Conversely, the decision to run independently was seen as well-timed. The rationale behind this decision was explained as the belief that continuing with alliances would weaken the institutional structure.

While Akşener’s insistence on running her party independently seemed like an opportunity to strengthen it, arguing that coalitions only “weaken the institutional structure,” it appears to have led to downfall for the once 3rd most powerful party in the country.

Will Akşener Seek Re-election?

After the İYİ Party’s notable setback in the March 31 elections, speculations of Akşener’s resignation as party chair ran amok, prompting the question if the İYİ Party would hold an extraordinary congress, possibly to replace Akşener as the party boss. 

Speaking to party members at the İYİ Party Headquarters in Ankara, Meral Akşener acknowledged that they had received the message delivered by voters.

Reassuring that the party would conduct a self-evaluation, Akşener stated: 

“In line with the authority bestowed upon me by our party’s constitution, we will convene our extraordinary elective congress at the earliest opportunity.”

“As Turkey upholds its democratic principles, it is incumbent upon us as the İYİ Party to take proactive measures. We will, as always, scrutinize the election outcomes and engage in introspection. Going forward, we will take the requisite actions based on the message and course set forth by our citizens. Therefore, in accordance with the authority vested in me as the party leader by our constitution, we will promptly convene our extraordinary elective congress.”

While the rumors of an extraordinary congress were dismissed on election night, Akşener announced the decision for an extraordinary congress the following day, but did not indicate if she would seek re-election.According to sources close to Medyascope, Akşener did not inform her close aides that she would not seek re-election.

Will there be a contender against Akşener?

According to the İYİ Party statute, to contest the leadership, an individual must meet the criteria for parliamentary membership. Any party member meeting these criteria can vie for the leadership with the written endorsement of one-fifth of the congress delegates. During the 3rd Ordinary Congress convened on June 24, 2023, no contender arose against Akşener, but there is a possibility of one emerging in the extraordinary congress.

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