Kılıçdaroğlu's words about Akşener reopened old wounds: A confession-like statement from a former İYİ Party member.

The statements made by former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu during the hearing of the case in which a political ban and prison sentence are sought against him stirred up the atmosphere in the İYİ Party.

The former CHP leader stated in his defense regarding the former İYİ Party Chairman Meral Akşener, "In the presidential elections, those we knew as nationalists and patriots who said, 'I entrust Kılıçdaroğlu to my family' turned out to be collaborators... I made a mistake because I believed them. Yes, I am at fault. I could not have predicted they could be this bad. I regret it."

In response to Kılıçdaroğlu's statements, Akşener maintained her silence; however, İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu reacted to Kılıçdaroğlu by stating, "There is no benefit in reopening old files."

CONFESSION-LIKE STATEMENT

A striking statement regarding the controversy came from Mehmet Tolga Akalın, the former Deputy Chairman of the İYİ Party. Akalın, who made a statement on his social media account, said, "The missing point that Mr. Kemal is unaware of is this: Akşener wanted to run against him but withdrew in fear. The collaboration with the government came later."

In his post titled "What Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Does Not Know," Akalın described the events that took place during the process when the Six-Party Table gathered to determine the presidential candidate with the following words:

"A few days before the Six-Party Table meeting on March 2, 2023, a question was raised in the İYİ Party General Administrative Board (GİK), 'What should we say if Mr. Kemal's name comes up?' The majority suggested reaching a consensus on Mansur Yavaş or Ekrem İmamoğlu, but it was stated that if Mr. Kemal's name came up, a public opinion poll should be requested.

"AKŞENER FEARED YAVAŞ AND İMAMOĞLU COMING FIRST"

Towards the end of the meeting, I took the floor. Briefly, I said, 'It is correct but insufficient to request a public opinion poll when Mr. Kemal's name comes up. The table will reject this in some way. Additionally, let’s request a 'member poll.' No chairman can escape from their own members,' I said. Akşener was initially surprised and then, with a sudden reflex, provided an absurd justification by saying, 'We examined this, there are technical obstacles,' and rejected my proposal."

Akalın claimed that Akşener was afraid of Mansur Yavaş or Ekrem İmamoğlu coming first as a result of this vote.

"AKŞENER WANTED TO BE A CANDIDATE"

Akalın stated, "Akşener actually did not want either Mansur Yavaş or Ekrem İmamoğlu to be candidates," adding that she aimed to force Turkey into a choice between Erdoğan and Mr. Kemal, making herself a third option as a candidate. However, this plan did not work out." No statement has yet come from the İYİ Party regarding these claims.