Ekrem İmamoğlu

Left to right, Mansur Yavas, Ekrem Imamoglu, Meral Aksener and Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Photo/Illustration: BIRN

However, in a sign of continued divisions, it has been revealed that Meral Aksener, leader of the Good Party, the second biggest in the alliance, opposed the candidacy of Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party, CHP.

The transfer of the presidency of the Balkan Cities Network from Istanbul to Athens on Monday was accompanied by strong political messages by the mayors of both cities, Ekrem Imamoglu and Kostas Bakoyannis, on the need to strengthen democracy, peace and cooperation. 

Mayors from 44 Balkan cities have arrived in Athens to attend the second gathering of the B40 Balkan Cities Network on Monday and Tuesday.

During Monday's session, the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, who hosted the network's inaugural meeting on November 29-30 1921, will deliver a report on the year of the presidency and transfer the presidency to Athens mayor Kostas Bakoyannis.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurated a 34 kilometers-long subway line stretching from the city center to Istanbul Airport on Jan. 22.

The new line from the Kağıthane district of Istanbul to the airport has eight stations with 24 minutes of travel time.

The city of Athens will welcome mayors from 66 cities and 10 countries in the Balkans on January 22-24 in the context of the B40 Balkan Cities Network Conference.

A lawsuit has been filed against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu for seven years in prison on the grounds of "bid rigging" of his time as the mayor of Beylikdüzü district in 2015.

Main oppositional Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has vowed to lower the alcohol taxes when he comes to power, suggesting the government's rise of taxes has turned into an intervention in lifestyles.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on Jan. 3 accused the government of conspiring against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

"We have important issues ahead of us. They want to seize the Istanbul Municipality, which the opposition won, with conspiracies," he said speaking to CHP members at the parliament.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has purchased a medallion depicting portraits of Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, known as Mehmet the Conqueror, for 38,000 pounds at an auction in London, the U.K.

The opposition alliance will prepare Türkiye for its second century when it comes to power in the next elections that will take place in June 2023, as the country will mark its centennial, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said.