23.06.2026 09:21
Mansur Yavaş, Mayor of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, made striking statements about his last meeting with Haymana Mayor Levent Koç, who joined the AK Party just hours after resigning from the CHP. Yavaş stated that Koç wanted to kiss his hand two days before the transfer and claimed he would not switch to the AK Party. Yavaş, who said he did not let him kiss his hand, also responded to allegations of "poster removal."
The party change of Haymana Mayor Levent Koç, who joined the AK Party just hours after resigning from the CHP, has caused widespread ripples in the political agenda. Notable statements on the matter came from Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş.
"HE WANTED TO KISS MY HAND, I DIDN'T LET HIM"
Speaking to Halk TV columnist İsmail Saymaz, Mansur Yavaş stated that his last meeting with Levent Koç took place on Saturday. Yavaş said that Koç stated he would not switch to the AK Party during that meeting.
Yavaş said, "When the resignation rumors were heard, he said, 'Let him call me, haven't we come to his invitation?' So we invited him, and he came. He wanted to kiss my hand, I didn't let him. He left as if nothing was wrong. He said, 'Just pat me on the back, I have nothing to do with anyone. When I do well, just say 'well done,' that's enough.' After that, things turned out this way."
"I TOLD HIM TO MAKE A STATEMENT IF HE WASN'T SWITCHING"
Expressing that he was unaware of Koç's decision to change parties, Yavaş said they only communicated through a few messages until Monday after the meeting. Yavaş stated that in those messages, he asked Koç to make a public statement if he was not going to switch to the AK Party.
RESPONSE TO POSTER REMOVAL ALLEGATIONS
Mansur Yavaş also addressed the allegations about poster removal raised against Levent Koç, stating that small municipalities can carry out many projects with metropolitan support.
Yavaş said, "He was telling everyone 'I did everything myself.' Small municipalities have no chance to do anything without metropolitan support. We also had our contributions, and we put up his poster. Since he was disturbed by it, we removed it. Since he came on Saturday saying that, we said 'Let's remove it then,' and we did."