Bakırköy mayor resigns over main opposition CHP nominations

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Bakırköy Mayor Ateş Ünal Erzen has resigned from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) because the party did not name him as a candidate for the upcoming local elections.

Selami Öztürk, the current mayor of Kadıköy on the Asian side of Istanbul, also strongly criticized his party’s decision not to nominate him again for the same district. “The party has called on someone who is not even a member of the party and does not live in Kadıköy and offered them the post,” said Öztürk, vowing to continue his bid to win the district.

“Nothing has finished yet. This is just the beginning. We will continue our struggle,” he added.

Stirring controversy even before the official announcements, the CHP’s candidate selections were finally made during a lengthy marathon meeting Feb. 9-10. However, they have led to resignations both at the parliamentary level and at the local administration level.

On Feb. 11, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu refused to step back and voiced his determination to promote youthful and women candidates in the elections set for March 30, vowing to rid the CHP of its “old diseases.”