Özdemir Also Claimed That the Ongoing Process Within the CHP Is Causing Problems in Meeting Citizens' Expectations in Türkiye

AK Party's Istanbul provincial chairman Abdullah Özdemir said the latest polls in Istanbul show his party leading with 44.5 percent support, ahead of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) at 40 percent. Speaking to CNN Turk's Ankara representative Dicle Canova, Özdemir said AK Party has come out on top in the most recent surveys in Istanbul ahead of the 2029 elections. He argued that when residents do not see the services they expect, they begin to question their preferences.

Asked whether the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and developments within the CHP had influenced this picture, Özdemir said dissatisfaction with municipal services was more decisive. He claimed that even before Imamoglu's detention, Istanbul residents were not receiving the services they expected. Özdemir said satisfaction surveys conducted with citizens show that the number of service headings offered by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in recent years has remained limited.

He alleged that Istanbul has not progressed since 2019 but has instead gone backward, drawing attention to transportation and traffic problems. Evaluating work carried out in Istanbul with support from ministries, Özdemir noted these services are delivered in districts governed by both AK Party and other parties' municipalities. He said citizens have begun comparing the difference between AK Party-run municipalities and others.

Özdemir also claimed that the ongoing process within the CHP is causing problems in meeting citizens' expectations. Referring to several mayors who have joined AK Party, he said these transitions are related to having a structure focused on serving people.