AKP to refrain from 7 cities to boost MHP alliance, reports

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has opted not to field candidates in five non-metropolitan provinces for the upcoming mayoral elections, throwing support behind its alliance partner Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) candidates, according to local reports.

The provinces in focus - Erzincan, Bartın, Kars, Kırklareli and Osmaniye - echo the strategic alliance in the 2019 elections, as revealed by the İhlas news agency. In the previous election, the MHP clinched victories in Erzincan, Bartın and Osmaniye, while trailing behind the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) candidate Ayhan Bilgen in Kars and independent candidate Mehmet Siyam Kesimoğlu in Kırklareli.

With an eye on the country's 30 metropolitan cities in next March's polls, MHP deputy leader Feti Yıldız declared last week that Manisa and Mersin are set to rally behind MHP candidates. On the other hand, the AKP will garner support in the remaining 28, including key battlegrounds such as Istanbul and the capital Ankara. The MHP secured Manisa in 2019, while Mersin favored the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate.

The comprehensive collaboration will also extend to non-metropolitan provinces where the MHP will abstain from fielding candidates, lending their support to the AKP candidates. These constituencies include Adıyaman, Ağrı, Ardahan, Artvin, Batman, Bilecik, Bingöl, Bitlis, Burdur, Çanakkale, Çorum, Edirne, Giresun, Hakkari, Iğdır, Kırşehir, Muş, Rize, Siirt, Sinop, Şırnak, Tunceli, Yalova and Zonguldak.

In 22 provinces, the AKP and MHP will independently contest the elections, presenting their own candidates. These encompass Afyonkarahisar, Aksaray, Amasya, Bayburt, Bolu, Çankırı, Düzce, Elazığ, Gümüşhane, Isparta, Karabük, Karaman, Kastamonu,...