08.02.2026 21:20
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, in his first statement after Keçiören Municipality Mayor Mesut Özarslan's resignation from the CHP, said, "This decision is absolutely unacceptable. Politics is temporary; positions come and go. But there are some decisions that are etched in our memories."
CHP member Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan announced his resignation from the CHP through a statement on his social media account.
Özarslan's statement drew attention with the phrases, "Can a party leader insult a mayor? Can a party leader target family values and insult? Can a party leader threaten with words that cannot be uttered?"
FIRST STATEMENT FROM MANSUR YAVAŞ
After Özarslan's resignation, all eyes turned to Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş. Yavaş made his first statement regarding the resignation on his social media account.
Yavaş wrote, "This decision, which casts a shadow on the will of the people of Keçiören, is absolutely unacceptable," and added, "Our citizens have made a clear, definite, and indisputable choice at the ballot box; they entrusted the management of Keçiören to the Republican People's Party and did so with their free will."
If the people of Keçiören wanted this district to be managed by the AK Party, they would have expressed it clearly and unequivocally at the ballot box. The ballot box is the voice of the nation; there can be no justification or calculation above that voice," he stated.
"THIS AUTHORITY CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED"
Yavaş also stated: "It should not be forgotten that authority belongs to the nation. The authority obtained at the ballot box does not belong to individuals or institutions, but directly to the voter. This authority is a trust; it cannot be transferred arbitrarily, cannot change hands, and cannot be usurped.
Until now, there has not been a single complaint regarding the policies of the Republican People's Party, and whenever the issue has come up, he has categorically denied the claims that have been raised for about a month regarding his "transition to the AK Party" in front of everyone.
"SOME DECISIONS ARE ETCHED IN MEMORY"
Thousands of party members, thousands of volunteers; without expecting anything in return, day and night, with faith and sacrifice, have worked for his election. This decision is not just a political preference; it is a blatant disrespect to that effort, that faith, and that sweat.
Politics is temporary; positions come and go. But there are some decisions that are etched in memory. Because the nation will remember both what has been done to it and those who disregard it when the time comes."
SUCCESSIVE RESIGNATIONS
Meanwhile, following the resignation of Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan, Keçiören Municipality Council Member Azra Ceylan Öztürk, Keçiören Deputy Mayor and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Council Member Serkan Bedirhanoğlu, and Keçiören Municipality Council Member Cihan Ayhan also announced their resignations from the CHP.
RUMORS OF JOINING AK PARTY
Additionally, there were rumors in the corridors that Özarslan would join the AK Party. Journalist Sinan Burhan stated that Mesut Özarslan, who was elected as the Mayor of Keçiören from the Republican People's Party, would join the AK Party, saying, "It seems certain that Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan will join the AK Party."
In relation to the same claim, AK Party member Prosecutor Sayan also made a statement, confirming the transfer rumors and sharing the date Özarslan would join the AK Party. Sayan said, "My source is as strong as steel. Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan will be with us in the AK Party on Wednesday. Three strong figures have convinced our President."