Meral Aksener declines Iyi Party leadership bid after election defeat
ANKARA — Following the setback of her party in the recent Turkish municipal elections, Meral Aksener, leader of the Iyi Party, announced her decision not to contest for leadership at the party’s upcoming extraordinary general conference slated for 27 April. Aksener’s decision elicited widespread criticism from party members, prompting several resignations.
In the wake of Aksener’s announcement, Musavat Dervishoglu, deputy head of the Iyi Party and deputy of Izmir, publicly declared his candidacy for party presidency via social media channels. Dervishoglu’s bid follows Mehmet Tolga Akalin, the party’s vice president for immigration policies, announcing his candidacy for the top position.
Expressing his respect for Aksener’s decision, Dervishoglu emphasized the impossibility of remaining indifferent to the prevailing circumstances, citing a sense of historical responsibility as his motivation for candidacy.
In response to these developments, a number of party members opted to part ways with the Iyi Party. Among them, Umit Ozlal, the party’s representative from Izmir, lamented the loss of momentum the party experienced since its inception. Ozlal expressed regret over the party’s inability to provide viable solutions to current challenges.
The Iyi Party’s performance in the elections saw them secure the sixth position, garnering 4% of the total votes cast and claiming victory in just one municipality out of 81.