29.10.2026 11:37
In the ongoing debates over the possibility of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality passing to the AK Party, Özgür Özel was asked whether he would cooperate with the CHP in such a situation. Özel reacted with the words, “I’ll set myself on fire! They’re asking on social media, ‘Are you ready? What are you going to do?’ and so on. I’ll set myself on fire, is that what you want?” but did not give a clear answer regarding a possible cooperation.
Debates over the administration of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality have regained momentum with the possibility that the conviction in the trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu, publicly known as the "idiot case," may become final.
After İmamoğlu was arrested and removed from office in March 2025, the İBB Council elected CHP member Nuri Aslan as deputy mayor. However, a possible new mayoral election has once again made political balances in the municipal council important.
The change of hands of some district municipalities in Istanbul and the shift of figures leaving the CHP toward the New Party have also affected majority calculations in the İBB Council.
After these developments, the question of whether the administration of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will pass to the AK Party has moved to the center of political debates.
CALL FROM CHP TO NEW PARTY FOR COOPERATION
CHP spokesperson Müslim Sarı announced that they want to act jointly with the New Party in possible İBB mayoral elections.
Sarı stated that they are open to cooperation to prevent the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality from passing to the People's Alliance, emphasizing that the political separation between the two parties should not be reflected in the municipal administration.
Also touching on the transfers of CHP council members to the New Party, Sarı said that despite political differences, action should be taken together in Istanbul.
Sarı stated that, as the CHP, they will make every effort to prevent the İBB from passing to the AK Party.
HARSH WORDS FROM ÖZGÜR ÖZEL TO CHP
New Party Chairman Özgür Özel, however, had previously reacted sharply to the CHP leadership's calls for cooperation.
Özel stated that they have evaluated the situation of mayors and council members separately since the New Party's founding process and said they did not force any name to change parties.
Emphasizing that they attach importance to preserving political balances in municipalities, Özel criticized the CHP leadership's past stance.
Özel had also previously stated that, in order to avoid polarization in the İBB, they did not ask council members close to them to resign from the CHP.
"I WILL SET MYSELF ON FIRE" OUTBURST ON LIVE BROADCAST
Özgür Özel encountered a question about the future of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality during a live broadcast he appeared on Sözcü TV.
Özel was asked whether the New Party would cooperate with the CHP if the danger of the İBB passing to the AK Party arose.
Stating that he constantly encounters the same questions on social media as well, Özel expressed his reaction with these words: "I will set myself on fire! They ask on social media, 'Are you ready? What will you do?' and so on. I will set myself on fire, is that what you want?"
HE DID NOT GIVE A CLEAR ANSWER ON COOPERATION
Despite the question directed at him, Özel did not announce a definitive decision on whether they would act jointly with the CHP in a possible İBB mayoral election.
While the CHP leadership continues its call for cooperation, how the New Party will position itself remains uncertain.
If a new mayoral election is held in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the political distribution in the municipal council and the path the parties follow will be decisive.