25.10.2025 08:20
After resigning from the CHP and continuing as an independent mayor of Aksu in Antalya, Mayor İsa Yıldırım commented on claims that he would join the AK Party, saying, "I intend to join." İsa Yıldırım stated that he has been in discussions at both the local and central levels within the AK Party.
In the Aksu district of Antalya, İsa Yıldırım, who won the local elections in 2024 as a candidate from the CHP and resigned from his party on September 27, 2025, attended the visit of Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu to the Aksu Family Health Center, which is undergoing renovation. Regarding the statements about his transition to the AK Party, Independent Mayor İsa Yıldırım responded to a question from DHA reporter, saying, "I intend to switch."
HARSH CRITICISM OF CHP
İsa Yıldırım stated, "Why did we go to CHP? We went because of Atatürk. We went because of Turkish nationalism, republic, and democracy. But now, the only party without Atatürk, republic, and democracy has become CHP. There is none. There is no Atatürk, no republic, no democracy. They haven't left any. The old CHP is gone. Now there is a district congress. People are fighting each other. For example, in the operations against CHP municipalities, the informants and complainants are again CHP members. The right-hand men of Muhittin Böcek are informants or complainants against Muhittin Böcek. There is no need for enemies in CHP. The enmity among themselves is enough. There cannot be such a party. How will you govern the country?"
"CALLS FROM AK PARTY"
Yıldırım mentioned that he has had contacts with the AK Party, saying, "Of course, there are invitations, there are calls. We said, 'Sure, we will switch.' Because our primary goal is to serve Aksu. If we increased the CHP votes from 20% to 55%, and if people from MHP and AK Party voted for us, they voted to serve Aksu. They did not vote for us to elect someone as President. Nor did we ask for votes by saying we would make someone 'President.' The people of Aksu know the problems of Aksu, and we know them too. We will do whatever is necessary to serve the people of Aksu," he said.
"A MAYOR CANNOT FIGHT WITH THE STATE"
İsa Yıldırım claimed that mayors have been put in a position to fight with the state through the presidential election, stating, "No mayor can fight with the state, nor with the state's institutions. Every mayor must cooperate with the state to solve problems. Özgür Özel knows this, all the executives of CHP know this, everyone knows this, and the citizens know it too. Now we have come to solve problems, and you are trying to put municipalities in the spotlight and conflict with state institutions over an artificial presidential election that will happen in 4 years," he said.
"WE HAVE MEETINGS"
Yıldırım, who explained that President Erdoğan became president after his successes as the mayor of Istanbul, spoke about the discussions regarding his transfer to the AK Party:
"The public has given you authority and power. They said, 'I give it to CHP locally.' Even AK Party members have said this. What did you do locally? Instead of solving problems like the President, you preferred to fight. You preferred to throw mayors into the fight. Can municipalities succeed this way? They cannot. We have meetings with the AK Party. We have nothing to hide. We are clear. We came for service as we said. It is no longer possible to serve in CHP. Their internal conflicts have already exhausted us. We were not elected to waste time in rallies. We were not elected to run from rally to rally. We were elected to serve. We will continue to serve."
HARSH CRITICISM OF BÖCEK, PRAISE FOR TÜREL
İsa Yıldırım, who made harsh criticisms of Muhittin Böcek, who is in prison as part of a 'bribery' investigation against the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, said, "Antalya lost 10 years with Muhittin Böcek. We also voted for Muhittin Böcek. Now we must see and speak the truth. When you enter Antalya, look to the right, it is the work of Menderes Türel; look to the left, it is the work of Menderes Türel. Look down, it is the work of Menderes Türel. Look underground, the flood overflow channels, septic channels are again the work of Türel. You look up, he has built a cable car to Tünektepe. You look at the sea, the beaches, the treatment plants, etc. Overpasses, underpasses, rail trains, everywhere is the work of Menderes Türel. You look at Muhittin Böcek, show me one work, there is not a single work. He widened the Cırnık Bridge by 3 meters, that is his work. There is no other work. And he did that in 3 months or so? So unfortunately, Antalya's 10 years have been wasted," he said.
"I HAVE NO CONDITIONS"
İsa Yıldırım explained that there are no problems regarding the majority with the resignation of 6 council members from Aksu Municipality, and he also mentioned that there will be other resignations from council members. Expressing that he has discussions both at the General Center and locally regarding the transition to the AK Party, Yıldırım said, "We have no expectations. We have no demands, no conditions. Only and only the resolution of Aksu's problems. We have one demand. Aksu has accumulated problems. These problems need to be solved."