After CHP Chairman Özgür Özel announced that the party’s presidential candidate would be determined through a primary election involving party members, political discussions within the party heated up. Nefes columnist Aytunç Erkin reported that in the halls of CHP, it is being said that Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) Mayor Mansur Yavaş has taken a firm stance on the primary election method.
Mansur Yavaş’s Opposition to the Primary System
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, a key figure in the opposition alliance and a potential presidential candidate, has reportedly expressed reservations about the primary election process. Sources close to Yavaş indicate that he believes it is too early to hold a primary and that such a decision could weaken the broader Türkiye İttifakı (Turkey Alliance). Additionally, he has raised concerns about limiting the candidate selection process solely to CHP members, arguing that it should be more inclusive of the general electorate.
Erkin also noted that Mansur Yavaş believes the CHP candidate should be chosen not by party members but by the public through a large-scale poll involving 50,000 participants. In his column, Erkin wrote:
“CHP leader Özgür Özel met with Mansur Yavaş at the party headquarters on Thursday, January 23. According to Yavaş’s close circles, he conveyed: ‘Mr. Özgür informed me about initiating the candidate selection process. However, I stated that there is no early election ahead and that announcing a candidate at this stage is premature. The chairman also did not inform me of the decision to determine the candidate through a primary election.’”
Yavaş is expected to hold a press conference in Ankara in the coming days, where he will express his views with subtle criticism.
Polling vs. Party Member Votes
Yavaş’s close associates have pointed to an alternative approach previously proposed by former İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener during the Altılı Masa negotiations—selecting a candidate based on nationwide polling. Yavaş’s camp reportedly advocates for conducting a survey with 50,000 participants through three reputable polling companies to ensure a candidate is chosen based on broader public support rather than internal party dynamics.
A senior advisor to Yavaş reportedly questioned the legitimacy of a party-member-based primary, asking, “When election day comes, should we accept the preference of 60 million voters or just the choice of CHP members?”
Imamoğlu’s Stronger Position?
In contrast, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, another leading contender for the presidency, appears to have secured an early advantage. Reports from within CHP suggest that Imamoğlu, who supports the primary system, has gained momentum following Özel’s announcement. Imamoğlu’s allies argue that CHP’s voter base represents a broad spectrum of Turkish society, making a primary election a fair and democratic method of candidate selection.
Tensions Rise Over Transparency
Yavaş’s dissatisfaction reportedly extends to his recent meeting with Özel at CHP headquarters on January 23. Sources close to Yavaş claim that while Özel informed him of the decision to start the candidate selection process, the primary election method was not explicitly communicated. This discrepancy has further fueled tensions within the party, with Yavaş’s camp feeling sidelined in the decision-making process.
What’s Next?
As CHP navigates this internal power struggle, the method of selecting the party’s presidential candidate remains a hotly debated issue. With Yavaş expected to voice his concerns publicly, and Imamoğlu gaining traction within party ranks, the road to the 2028 presidential election promises to be a contentious one for Turkey’s main opposition party.
