Five opposition leaders expected to announce Kılıçdaroğlu as candidate

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Five opposition leaders are meeting today (March 6) in Ankara, the capital, to announce their alliance's joint presidential candidate.

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), is expected to be nominated.

After a meeting between the leaders on Thursday, the Good (İYİ) Party, the second-largest of the six parties, left the alliance because of a disagreement over Kılıçdaroğlu's candidacy.

İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener had proposed one of the mayors of Ankara or İstanbul, both members of the CHP, as the candidate. Both mayors rejected the offer, announcing support for their party leader.

Akşener's move marked the end of the six-party alliance months into the elections, which are expected to take place on May 14.

After a meeting on Saturday, the other five leaders said "we are determined to continue our work in the same direction."

UPDATE - Akşener returns to Table of Six

The Table of Six

The six-party bloc comprised the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), the İYİ (Good) Party, the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party, the Gelecek (Future) Party, the Saadet (Felicity) Party and the Democratic Party (DP).

Leaders of the parties had their first round table meeting on February 22, 2022, to address the country's problems and discuss solutions.

On February 28, they signed a memorandum of understanding to switch to what they called an "enforced parliamentary system" after the elections. Such a change would require the opposition bloc to have a three-fifth majority in the parliament, which is not likely according to election polls.

The DEVA Party, led by former deputy PM Ali Babacan, and the Gelecek Party, led by former PM Ahmet Davutoğlu, are the two splinter movements from the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The Saadet Party also shares the same Islamic roots with the AKP, which has been in power for over 20 years.

İYİ Party is a splinter movement from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the allies of the ruling party.

The four parties other than the CHP and the İYİ Party have no significant popular support, with their voting rates below 3 percent, according to most election polls.

(ME/VK)