Yesterday (February 9), three leading figures in Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) met in Ankara to discuss the possible early selection of a presidential candidate. CHP chairman Özgür Özel joined Ankara mayor Mansur Yavaş and Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Turkey’s next presidential elections are expected to take place in 2028, although the opposition has made repeated calls for earlier polls.
Sources indicated that the trio had discussed the election campaign, candidate selection, and campaign schedule during the 2.5-hour meeting.
Meeting follows Özel’s call for early candidate selection
On January 28th, Özgür Özel issued a call for an early candidate selection, saying that “All party members will cast their votes to determine our presidential candidate.”
Özel’s move surprised some, having been made over three full years before Turkey’s next planned presidential election in the spring of 2028. On the other hand, the move has been interpreted as an attempt to shield the opposition from mounting legal pressure and give legitimacy to calls for early polls.
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A recent string of arrests and court cases have targeted numerous CHP officials, including Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu, Esenyurt district mayor Ahmet Özer, Beşiktaş district mayor Rıza Akpolat, and CHP youth wing leader Cem Aydın. Additionally, numerous pro-Kurdish politicians have been deposed in recent months, while numerous arrests of opposition journalists have also made headlines of late.
Yavaş expresses reservations
Following Özel’s call for early candidate selection in late January, Ankara mayor Mansur Yavaş had announced reservations towards the plan, saying “It is far too early to determine a candidate. The election date has not yet been set, and many things in Turkey could change between now and then.” Yavaş, along with İmamoğlu, has been viewed as one of the most likely faces to appear as the CHP’s presidential candidate.
On Monday morning (February 10), reports from the meeting obtained by Medyascope indicated that although Sunday’s meeting took place cordially, Yavaş intends not to partake in the early candidate selection process nor appear as a candidate. Such a move by Yavaş would likely pave the way for an announcement of İmamoğlu’s candidacy.
Erdoğan mentions İmamoğlu by name
At a recent party meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan broke with convention and addressed the Istanbul mayor directly by name, saying “They claim to have accomplished more [in Istanbul] in five years than we could in 23. Mr Ekrem, please prove and substantiate this claim. Even your dreams cannot reach the places our actions have reached, Ekrem.”
İmamoğlu later responded to the president, saying “My advice is that the President show the same consistent harshness towards the US President, who wants to take over Gaza, as he does towards me.”
The CHP’s previous opposition leader and former presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was a frequent direct target in Erdoğan’s speeches, and was given the belittling nickname ‘Bay Kemal’. Up until now, Erdoğan has avoided using a similar strategy towards İmamoğlu, who is often viewed as his chief rival and won a commanding reelection victory in March 2024.
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Turkey: opposition leaders meet in Ankara to discuss presidential candidate selection
Written for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
