Ekrem İmamoğlu declared his intention to run in the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for next year.
Speaking at a press conference, the incumbent Istanbul mayor stated the importance of jointly “preserving” the municipality.
“Now we have to come together to win Istanbul again. We must act together for a remarkable triumph,” he emphasized.
Imamoğlu expressed his commitment to forming the Istanbul coalition, which aims to bring together diverse political parties for achieving election success.
The municipal elections are planned to take place on March 31, 2024. Imamoğlu was declared the winner with 54% of the votes for the June 2019 mayoral elections.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced their intention to reclaim the municipalities they lost in 2019. He further mentioned that they have initiated the process of selecting candidates for the elections, emphasizing their aim to achieve the “most successful outcomes” through the selection of the “most suitable candidates.”
“I am en route to safeguard Istanbul once more,” Imamoğlu said. “I am embarking on a journey to continue delivering services that cater to the needs of 16 million residents, just as we have been doing for the past 4 years.”
He underscored that he will prioritize participation and rational decision-making as the focal points of his approach.
After the presidential elections, where CHP’s chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu failed to displace Erdoğan, the main opposition party became a center of discussions concerning the party’s leadership.
Prominent CHP figures, including Imamoğlu, urged for Kılıçdaroğlu’s step down from the party leadership position following the outcome.
Breaking News Turkey