Akşener open to both İmamoğlu, Yavaş as presidential candidates

Duvar English

Opposition Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener said during a broadcast on Karar TV on Oct. 25 that her party would not oppose either of the potential presidential candidates of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), namely Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Akşener's İYİ Party and the CHP have been leading collaboration efforts ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2023, as the two parties have been meeting with six other opposition parties to work towards a return to a parliamentary system. 

Akşener earlier said that she's not considering running for president in the upcoming elections, as she's interested in the seat of prime minister after a return to a parliamentary system. 

The İYİ Party and CHP are spearheading the opposition Nation Alliance and the chairwoman noted that both İmamoğlu and Yavaş are people she petitioned to get elected in the 2019 local elections. 

"I've met with people from 63 different provinces, and I see that the general narrative tries to pit opposition voters against each other over these two politicians [İmamoğlu and Yavaş]," Akşener said. "I'm worried about whether people will stand behind them after so much antagonization." 

The İYİ Party leader believes the opposition should go to elections with a single candidate, and that she "wouldn't say no if Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu suggests either candidate."

"I explained exactly what our goal was when I said I am up for prime minister," Akşener said. "We will quickly switch back to a parliamentary system."

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