AKP official implies İstanbul mayor may be dismissed after presidential runoff

Photo: AA

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İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's potential dismissal due to a recent court ruling has resurfaced as a topic of debate ahead of the May 14 elections. The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Group Spokesperson, Lawyer Murat Türkyılmaz, hinted at the post-election period in a recent social media post.

The discussion surrounding the removal of Ekrem İmamoğlu as the İstanbul mayor by the Ministry of Interior had temporarily subsided due to the upcoming elections. İmamoğlu, along with Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, would assume the role of vice presidents if Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, candidate of the opposition, wins the second rounf of the presidential election on May 28.

Both mayors have actively engaged in the election campaign of the Nation's Alliance, seeking to secure votes by conducting rallies across various parts of Turkey.

Murat Türkyılmaz, the AKP İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Group Spokesperson, reignited the debate over İmamoğlu's potential dismissal by claiming that he would also play an active role in the second round of the presidential elections. Türkyılmaz expressed his views through a social media post.

In his statement on Twitter, Türkyılmaz remarked, "The file concerning the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and its administration has become quite extensive. Once the elections are over, we will address it specifically. We kindly request your patience..."

İmamoğlu was sentenced to 2 years and 7 months in prison on December 14 for insulting the country's top election officials. If the verdict is upheld, he will lose his position as the mayor. (Mİ/VK)