CHP Confirms Aydın Mayor’s Defection to AKP Amid Allegations of Political Pressure

ISTANBUL – The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has confirmed that Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu will defect to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), a move senior CHP officials say comes after political pressure and threats.

CHP Deputy Chairmen Ensar Aytekin and Gökan Zeybek traveled to Aydın on Wednesday to address the speculation. Speaking to reporters, Aytekin said that those who had long championed CHP values were abandoning the party under pressure.

“Thanks to the strength of the CHP, some have shouted ‘Topuklu Efe’ slogans for years, but the moment a file is placed before them, they choose to flee and join AKP ranks,” Aytekin remarked, using the mayor’s nickname and accusing her of betrayal. “We will never forget those who resisted alongside us, nor those who betrayed.”

Aytekin also urged party members to reach out to citizens and encourage them to join CHP in response to what he described as “political injustice.”

“Not Just One Person Defecting”

Gökan Zeybek suggested that Çerçioğlu’s defection was part of a larger shift:

“It’s clear she’s not moving alone,” he said. “She’s trying to bring along other mayors and municipal council members. The people of Aydın will show her she can’t walk freely in the streets after this. At a time when sacrifices are being made, defecting to the ruling party for personal gain is something she cannot explain to the public.”

CHP Appoints New Leadership in Aydın

The CHP leadership also announced new organizational appointments for the province in the wake of the political shift.

Meanwhile, CHP leader Özgür Özel, speaking after visiting Istanbul Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu in prison, alleged that Çerçioğlu’s defection came after threats.

Özel: “This Is Not Courage – Shame on You”

Özel claimed that government-linked pollster Aziz İhsan Aktaş had worked with Aydın municipality and that authorities were using this connection to pressure Çerçioğlu.

“They told her: ‘You’ve worked with Aktaş. Either I’ll put you in jail, or you join my party.’ That’s all this is,” Özel said. “While so many brave people are in prison resisting injustice, she couldn’t show the same courage.”

Directly addressing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Özel accused him of resorting to threats to take control of Aydın:

“You were decisively defeated in Aydın in the March 31 elections. We beat you not once, but multiple times. If taking Aydın means saying ‘join my party or go to prison,’ what kind of bravery is that? Shame on you. Next time, we will win Aydın again.”

Çerçioğlu is expected to formally announce her move to the AKP on Thursday. Özel dismissed it as “false enlightenment” and called AKP’s governance “a dark order.”