Ankara, Sep 30 (FN Agency) The mayor of Ankara and a member of opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Mansur Yavas, said on Monday that he might run for Turkey’s presidency in 2028 on the platform of his political party, adding that he believes in his victory. “There is no such agenda in the country at the moment. But if my party nominates me as a candidate, I say it everywhere, of course I will run for president and I will definitely win. Our current agenda is to work with all the mayors. Because, as it is known, the people are in a tight spot due to economic difficulties,” Yavas said in his address at the International Beypazari Festival in Ankara, as quoted by the Karar newspaper.
According to a poll conducted by the Asal Research Center in August, Yavas is Turkey’s favorite politician, with 19.7% of respondents’ votes. Yavas came ahead of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who got 18.3% of votes. Erdogan was elected president in May 2023 with more that 52% of votes. Earlier this month, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said that the party was ready to participate in snap elections no later than November 2025, and the opposition is confident of victory. Erdogan has condemned the opposition’s talk of the need for snap presidential election. The next general elections in Turkey are scheduled for spring 2028.