Main opposition CHP to determine presidential candidate on March 23
Imamoglu is seen as the likely candidate for main opposition CHP as Ankara's Mansur Yavas is expected not to join the race. (Collage: Türkiye Today team)
Türkiye’s main opposition People’s Republican Party (CHP) will host an internal primary to select its presidential candidate on Sunday, March 23, 2025. CHP members will head to the polls to decide who will represent the party in the upcoming 2028 presidential and parliamentary elections.
On Feb. 9, the CHP’s heavyweights chairman Ozgur Ozel, Ankara mayor Mansur Yavas, and Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu held a trilateral meeting in Ankara to discuss unfolding events. Reports suggest that Imamoglu and Yavas reached a full agreement on the candidacy issue, with both agreeing not to publicly debate decisions made by the party.
Ozel is expected to outline the roadmap for the primary during a CHP group meeting at the Turkish Parliament in the upcoming days, where he will share details with the public.
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas to sit out on primary
There has been much speculation that while Imamoglu was in favor of the primary, Yavas was not.
This claim gained attention when Ozel met with both Yavas and Imamoglu in Ankara. However, on the morning of the meeting, it was revealed that Yavas informed Ozel and Imamoglu of his decision to not participate in the primary. This news has made significant waves in the political agenda.
Unspoken rivalry between Istanbul’s Ekrem Imamoglu and Ankara’s Mansur Yavas
Main opposition CHP’s daunting task: Nominate Imamoglu but still keep Yavas
Main opposition CHP faces internal debate over primary election decision
