Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş Leaves CHP to Serve as Independent

Mansur Yavaş, who has won two mayoral elections in Turkey’s capital, resigned from the Republican People’s Party on Wednesday, citing an unnamed comment that compelled him to leave. He announced on X that he will remain in office as an independent and will not transfer his mandate to any other party. Yavaş’s decision follows a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that fueled rumors about a possible shift to the ruling Justice and Development Party, which he denied.

The resignation occurs as the Interior Ministry has opened probes into Yavaş’s municipal spending and vehicle use, while other opposition mayors face arrests and legal pressure. Yavaş warned that internal party disputes could weaken the opposition’s ability to challenge Erdoğan in upcoming elections. Recent polling showed he could be a strong presidential contender if the opposition fields him.