Mansur Yavas emerges as hope for opposition IYI Party amid resignations

Following a series of resignations, the opposition Good Party (IYI Party) is looking to the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas as a source of hope. Many in IYI Party believe that drawing closer to Yavas could give the party a much-needed boost.

In the May 2023 elections, IYI Party entered the Turkish Parliament with 43 MPs, but this number has since fallen to 30 following multiple resignations. The party is now searching for solutions to stop the decline that has demoralized its ranks.

It is rumored that IYI Party leader Musavvat Dervisoglu is trying to build closer ties with Yavas to strengthen the party. Meanwhile, speculation is growing that Ankara MPs Yuksel Arslan and Adnan Beker could return to IYI Party. Arslan resigned after former leader Meral Aksener accused Yavas of “cowardice” for not running in the presidential election, publicly backing Yavas before leaving the party.

Beker, after a fallout with Aksener, made sharp public statements and also resigned. He had previously served as IYI Party’s Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Group deputy chairman before becoming an MP.

There are also rumors that Yavas may aim to exert more control over IYI Party through this rapprochement. Yavas recently found himself at odds with CHP’s potential presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu and some claim that Yavas is preparing to run for president as IYI Party’s candidate if CHP does not nominate him.